Toxic fruit or foul play? Inside the baffling watermelon deaths in Mumbai

International

A FAMILY dinner, a shared fruit, and a fatal collapse inside a Mumbai home. Nearly three weeks on, investigators still cannot explain how all four members of the Dokadia family died.

The victims, Abdullah Dokadia, his wife Nasreen, and their two daughters Ayesha and Zainab, were found dead on April 25 at their home in the Pydhonie area of Pydhonie. The case quickly drew nationwide attention and heavy media coverage.

Early reports called it the “watermelon deaths” after the fruit was identified as the last food the family ate, a label that triggered widespread speculation and warnings in parts of the media about watermelon safety and even affected market demand.

Police said the family had hosted relatives for dinner that night, serving biriyani before the guests left at around 22:30.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Pravin Mundhe said in a BBC report, “They all began suffering from vomiting and diarrhea. They were taken to a nearby hospital and later transferred to JJ Hospital. However, all four individuals unfortunately died.”

After the guests left, the family reportedly ate watermelon and later became seriously ill. Neighbours rushed to help after hearing distress, including Dr Zaid Qureshi, who assisted at the scene.

“I noticed that the youngest of the four individuals was experiencing difficulty breathing. I administered CPR. However, as her condition did not improve, she was taken to a nearby hospital. She passed away,” he told BBC Marathi.

Initial investigations focused on possible food contamination, and police collected samples from the home, including leftover watermelon, for testing. That focus shifted after results from the Forensic Science Laboratory in Mumbai indicated the presence of zinc phosphide.

FSL director Dr Vijay Thakare told BBC Marathi the chemical was detected in multiple viscera samples, including the liver, kidney and spleen, as well as stomach contents and bile, and also in the watermelon sample.

Police investigator Pravin Mundhe confirmed the same substance was found in the fruit sample but not in other food items seized. Zinc phosphide is a rodenticide that can release phosphine gas in the body, disrupting oxygen use at a cellular level and potentially leading to rapid organ failure.

Despite forensic findings pointing to a toxic substance, investigators say the case remains unresolved, with key questions still unanswered about how the chemical entered the food and what may have driven the incident. Authorities continue to examine multiple angles, and have not ruled out homicide, accidental death or suicide as they work to reconstruct the sequence of events.

Police have questioned 40 to 50 people as the investigation continues. Reports in The Indian Express also note rodent problems in the building, where poison-based control methods are commonly used.(MyTVCebu)

Andi