Mumbai tragedy Family of four dies after chicken biryani and watermelon meal

Mumbai- A family of four in Mumbai’s Pydhonie area died within hours of falling severely ill after a meal, prompting police to investigate the case as suspected food poisoning.

The victims — Abdulla Abdul Kader Dokadia, 40, his wife Nasreen, 35, and their daughters Ayesha, 16, and Zainab, 13 — were residents of Mogul Building, located opposite the local police station. Authorities have registered accidental death reports and initiated a detailed probe.

According to police, the family had hosted relatives for dinner on Saturday night, where chicken pulao was served. After the guests left around 11:30 pm, the family reportedly stayed awake and later consumed watermelon at around 1:30 am.

Soon after, all four began experiencing severe vomiting and diarrhoea-like symptoms. Initially, they took medication at home, but as their condition worsened, they contacted relatives and were rushed to Saboo Siddique Hospital for treatment.

Doctors there described their condition as critical. As their health deteriorated further, they were shifted to JJ Hospital Mumbai for advanced care.

The youngest daughter was the first to succumb, followed by her mother later in the day. The elder daughter died late at night, and the father passed away shortly afterwards.

Police officials said food samples, including the meal prepared at home and the watermelon consumed later, have been collected and sent for forensic examination. Viscera samples have also been preserved to determine the exact cause of death.

Investigators said the Food and Drug Administration has joined the inquiry, and the final cause will be confirmed after laboratory reports are received.

Authorities have ruled out the possibility of suicide and are focusing on contamination or food poisoning as the likely cause behind the deaths.