Overview
- Abdullah and Nasreen Dokadia and their daughters Ayesha and Zainab fell ill after eating watermelon around 1 to 1:30 am and all four died during treatment on Sunday.
- Police registered unnatural death cases and sent viscera, leftover dinner, watermelon and drinking water for chemical and histopathology testing at the Kalina forensic lab.
- Doctors at Sir JJ Hospital said the rapid decline was not typical of routine food poisoning and flagged possible exposure to a toxic or chemical substance.
- Investigators traced the Null Bazaar hawker who sold the fruit as the state FDA said it will act only if laboratory reports link the deaths to watermelon.
- Vendors in Pydhonie, Bhendi Bazaar and Null Bazaar reported falling demand for watermelon as residents wait for the forensic findings.