A devastating incident in South Mumbai’s Pydhonie area has left a family of four dead under circumstances that police describe as suspicious and currently under investigation, with early signs pointing to suspected food poisoning. Authorities and medical experts are working to piece together the sequence of events that led to this tragedy.
On the night of April 25, the Dokadia family — Abdullah Dokadia (40), his wife Nasreen (35), and their daughters Ayesha (16) and Zainab (13) — hosted a small dinner at their home that included biryani with five visiting relatives. After relatives left around 10:30 pm, the family reportedly ate watermelon later that night, around 1 am.
In the early hours of the next morning, all four began showing severe symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, and their health suddenly deteriorated. They were first seen by a family doctor and later taken to J J Hospital for emergency treatment, but despite medical efforts, all four passed away by the night of April 26.
Police have registered an Accidental Death (AD) case at J J Marg Police Station and say a detailed probe is underway to determine the cause of the deaths. Samples of food items — including the watermelon — and biological specimens from the victims have been collected for forensic examination and histopathology tests, which officials say will reveal the exact cause. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the watermelon, the biryani, or something else was responsible.
Despite early speculation circulating on social media about watermelon being inherently dangerous, food safety experts caution that ordinary fruits are not toxic, and stress that contamination or improper handling — not the fruit itself — would be the likely issue in a food poisoning case. Many who ate the biryani at the family dinner did not fall ill, suggesting that what was eaten later may hold important clues.
The investigation has sparked wider concern about food safety and hygiene, especially during warm weather when perishable items like cut fruit can become breeding grounds for bacteria if not stored properly. However, officials emphasise that no definitive conclusions should be drawn until all lab reports are available.
This deeply saddening case has shaken neighbours and the wider community, prompting calls for clearer awareness about safe food handling, and a thorough official explanation once the ongoing testing is complete.
