Mumbai family's mysterious deaths after eating biriyani, watermelon: Doctors reveal that kidneys of victims were 'severely impacted'. Here's what happened

In South Mumbai, four members of the same family died after they ate biryani, and they later consumed watermelon late at night. Their condition began to worsen, and none of them could be saved, with doctors pointing out that their kidneys were severely impacted. Doctors have said there are less chances that watermelon could be behind their deaths. Four members of a family in south Mumbai, a couple and their two minor daughters, died after they consumed chicken pulav and watermelon in a gap of a few hours. All four victims complained of vomiting and giddiness with severe discomfort and died thereafter at the JJ Hospital. A doctor looking after them at the JJ Hospital told TOI that they had symptoms similar to food poisoning and their kidneys were severely impacted. Dr Sanjay Surase, medical superintendent at the hospital, said, "It is very unlikely a stale watermelon can be this fatal. There could be some additives or something else altogether. At this point, we are not ruling out any possibility." ALSO READ: Delhi, Noida, Gurugram to get relief from scorching heat today as IMD forecasts a sharp change According to TOI, the five other relatives also shared biryani-pulao with them at 10.30 and when they left, the four victims, Abdullah Dodakia (44), who owned a mobile phone accessories shop in Andheri, his wife Nasreen (35), and daughters Ayesha (16) and Zainab (12), ate watermelon at around 1 am on Sunday, police said. The couple and the children were first rushed to a private hospital, but as their condition worsened, they were shifted to JJ Hospital, where all succumbed on Sunday. The spate of deaths began around 10.30 am with Zainab, then Nasreen three hours later, Ayesha around 5.15 pm and Abdulla about 10.15 pm. Doctors at the JJ Hospital, completely puzzled at the situation, told the Times of India that it is "very unlikely" that a stale watermelon could be behind the deaths of four people at such close intervals, even pointing out that all medical efforts failed to save them. Dr Ziad Qureshi, who had initially examined the family, told NDTV they were in a very bad state and appeared exhausted. "They had severe vomiting and diarrhea. When I rushed them to the hospital, they informed me that they had eaten watermelon," he said. "The statements of Abdullah and Ayesha were recorded. They said they experienced vomiting and diarrhoea after eating the watermelon. No foul play is suspected as of now. Postmortem and forensic reports are awaited," a police officer told TOI. Samples of the watermelon have been sent for testing. The chaos unfolded on the second floor where the family lived. At around 10 am, neighbours called the fourth-floor homeopath, Zaid Qureshi, who said Zainab had froth in her mouth and her pulse could not be detected, and the other three family members were semi-conscious. One by one, neighbours rushed the family members to the hospital. They were first taken to Saboo Siddique Hospital, where Zainab was declared dead. Abdulla and Nasreen were later shifted to JJ Hospital, followed by Ayesha. Nasreen died two hours after being admitted. Ayesha was moved to the ICU, and her father was admitted soon after. The two died about five hours apart. (With TOI inputs) (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)