Four Die in Suspected Food Poisoning; Father Gave Statement Before Death

In a shocking incident, four members of a family from Andheri died within 24 hours after allegedly consuming contaminated food, prompting an investigation by Mumbai Police. The deceased include Abdulla Dokadia, his wife, and their two daughters.

Dokadia, who owned a mobile shop in Andheri, had given a statement to police on Sunday afternoon describing the sequence of events before his condition worsened. He died later that night around 10:30 PM. The remaining three family members also succumbed within hours.

According to police, the incident began with a family dinner on Saturday night. Dokadia had invited relatives over as some family members were visiting from their native place.

In his statement, Dokadia said, “We had mutton pulao and fruits, including watermelon purchased from a nearby market. Around 10 to 10:30 PM, nine of us ate together and were chatting. After the relatives left, family continued their evening at home.”

“Later, we felt a bit hungry again, so my wife cut the watermelon and we all ate it,” he added.

By Sunday morning, all four began experiencing symptoms such as vomiting and uneasiness. A local doctor was contacted and prescribed medication. However, only Dokadia and his elder daughter took the medicine, while the other two reportedly refused due to discomfort.

As their health deteriorated, they were rushed to JJ Hospital, where they were admitted for treatment.
Despite medical efforts, all four died within a span of 24 hours.
Officials from JJ Marg Police Station have launched an investigation into the case. A watermelon seller from a nearby market was detained and questioned for over six hours.

According to police, the vendor stated that he sells over 100 fruits daily and was unaware of any contamination. He reportedly sourced the fruits from Vashi Market.

Post-mortem examinations of all four deceased have been conducted, and viscera samples, along with samples of the consumed food items, have been sent for forensic testing.
Police officials said the exact cause of death will be confirmed only after the forensic reports are received.

While initial suspicion points to food poisoning, authorities have not ruled out other possibilities. The incident has raised concerns about food safety and quality control in the supply chain.

Further action in the case will depend on the outcome of the forensic analysis.
The investigation is ongoing.