Mumbai: A feast turned tragic on Saturday night when four members of a family – two sisters and their parents – died within hours of eating watermelons. Police said that while five other relatives had eaten biryani-pulao with them at 10.30 pm, and had no symptoms, all four ate fruits at around 1 am on Sunday. The deceased are Abdullah Dodakia (44), a resident of Bhindi Bazaar, who owned a mobile phone accessories shop in Andheri, his wife Nasreen (35) and daughters Ayesha (16) and Zainab (12). Doctors at JJ Hospital, where three victims were treated, are also shocked. He said it was “very unlikely” that a rancid watermelon could cause the deaths of four people at such close intervals and that all medical efforts would fail to save them. The series of deaths began around 10.30 am, with Zainab dying, followed by Nasreen three hours later, Ayesha at 5.15 pm and Abdullah at 10.15 pm.

the doctor was surprised

A doctor attending to them at JJ Hospital said that all three had symptoms of food poisoning and their kidneys were severely affected. JJ Marg police have registered four cases of accidental deaths, the investigation of which is ongoing. He said that Abullah’s brother and other relatives live nearby and everyone had gone to their homes soon after the feast. “The statements of Abdullah and Ayesha were recorded. They said that after eating the watermelon they experienced vomiting and diarrhoea. At present there is no possibility of any disturbance. “Postmortem and forensic reports are awaited,” a police officer said. Watermelon samples have been sent for testing. Both sisters were waiting for their exam results; Police said Ayesha was expected to pass Class 10 with good marks and Zainab was all set to join Class 9. Between 5 and 5.30 am on Sunday morning, all four started showing symptoms of severe restlessness along with vomiting. The family lived on the second floor of the Mughal Building in Ghati Gali. There was commotion on her floor between 9.30 and 10 am on Sunday, forcing neighbors to call fourth-floor homeopath Zaid Qureshi, who said Zainab had foam at the mouth and her pulse was undetectable, and the other three members of the family were semi-conscious. TOI attempted to reach him but to no avail till press time. One by one the neighbors took the family members to the hospital. They were taken to Sabu Siddiqui Hospital where Zainab was declared brought dead. Abdullah and Nasreen were shifted to JJ Hospital, followed by Ayesha. Dr Sanjay Surse, medical superintendent of the hospital, said, “It is very unlikely that stale watermelon could be so fatal. There may be some additive or something else in it. At this point, we are not ruling out any possibility.“ Nasreen died two hours after admission. Ayesha was shifted to the ICU after her father. Their deaths occurred approximately five hours apart. (With inputs from Rachel Varghese)