A family feast in Mumbai turned tragic as four members died within hours after consuming watermelon. The incident occurred in the Bhendi Bazaar area, where Abdulla Dodakia (44), his wife Nasreen (35), and daughters Ayesha (16) and Zainab (12) lost their lives. The family had eaten watermelon around 1 a.m. on Sunday, while other relatives who shared biryani and pulao at 10:30 p.m. on Saturday remained unaffected.
Timeline of deaths
The first casualty was Zainab at around 10:30 a.m. on Sunday. Her mother Nasreen died three hours later, followed by Ayesha at 5:15 p.m., and Abdulla at 10:15 p.m. All four exhibited symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea after consuming the fruit.
Medical professionals express surprise
Doctors at JJ Hospital, where three victims were treated, stated that it is highly unlikely for a stale watermelon to cause such rapid and severe fatalities. Dr. Sanjay Surase, medical superintendent, commented, "It is very unlikely a stale watermelon can be this fatal. There could be some additives or something else altogether. At this point, we are not ruling out any possibility." The victims showed signs of severe kidney impact, typical of food poisoning.
Police investigation underway
JJ Marg police have registered four cases of accidental death and are awaiting postmortem and forensic reports. No foul play is suspected currently. Samples of the watermelon have been sent for testing. Police recorded statements from Abdulla and Ayesha before their deaths, confirming they experienced vomiting and diarrhea after eating the watermelon.
Neighbors and homeopath recount events
The family lived on the second floor of Mughal Building in Ghati Gali. Between 9:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Sunday, neighbors noticed chaos and called Zaid Qureshi, a homeopath from the fourth floor. He reported that Zainab had froth in her mouth and no detectable pulse, while the other three were semi-conscious. Family members were taken to Saboo Siddique Hospital, where Zainab was declared dead. Abdulla and Nasreen were transferred to JJ Hospital, followed by Ayesha. Nasreen died two hours after admission, while Ayesha and Abdulla died about five hours apart.
The sisters were awaiting their exam results; Ayesha was expected to perform well in Class X, and Zainab was set to join Class IX. The investigation continues as authorities await test results to determine the exact cause of death.
