Zinc Phosphide in Watermelon Killed Mumbai Family of 4

Forensic tests have confirmed that traces of zinc phosphide, a toxic chemical used in rat poison, caused the deaths of four members of a Mumbai family who fell ill after eating watermelon late on April 25, police officials said Thursday.

The victims were Abdulla Dokadia, 44, his wife Nasrin, 35, and their daughters Aayesha, 16, and Zaineb, 13, residents of Ghari Mohalla on Ismail Kurte Road in the Pydhonie area of south Mumbai. The family had hosted relatives that night, serving items such as chicken biryani or mutton pulao. The guests left without falling ill. Around 1 a.m. on April 26, the four family members ate pieces of watermelon. Within hours, they developed severe vomiting and diarrhea. They were first taken to a local hospital and later transferred to the state-run JJ Hospital, where they died during treatment.

The Forensic Science Laboratory in Kalyan detected zinc phosphide in viscera samples from all four victims, including the liver, kidney, spleen, stomach contents, bile, and abdominal fat. The watermelon sample also tested positive, while other food items, drinking water, and spices collected from the home were negative. Postmortem examinations noted greenish...