Mumbai family deaths: Experts point to presence of rat poison ingredient zinc phosphide in viscera

At around 1 am, hours after the guests had left, Abdullah Dokadia 40, his wife Nasreen 35, and daughters Ayesha 16 and Zaineb 13 ate pieces of a watermelon.

The deaths of four members of a family in Pydhonie area of south Mumbai last month was caused by rat poison, an official said on Thursday. The experts who examined the viscera of deceased Abdulla Dokadia (44), his wife Nasrin (35) as well as daughters Aayesha (16) and Zaineb (13) found traces of zinc phosphide, used primarily as a highly toxic acute rodenticide to control rats and mice, the official added. The family did not die due to the consumption of watermelons as was widely believed, he said. ''It is, however, unclear whether the rat poison was consumed accidentally (or on purpose). So far, we have found no strong reason why the whole family would take such an extreme step. Further probe is being conducted by the JJ Marg police station, which has recorded statements of kin and neighbours,'' he said. The Dokadia family, residents of Ghari Mohalla on Ismail Kurte Road, had hosted a get-together of relatives on the night of April 25. At around 1 am, hours after the guests had left, Abdullah Dokadia (40), his wife Nasreen (35), and daughters Ayesha (16) and Zaineb (13) ate pieces of a watermelon. They suffered severe bouts of vomiting and diarrhoea in the early hours of April 26 and were rushed to a local hospital before being referred to the government-run J J Hospital where all four died during treatment.