Noida/Lucknow, Oct 17 (PTI) A couple and their children were found dead at their home in a village in Greater Noida on Saturday morning, police said, as an investigation was launched into the suspected poisoning case.
The Dalit family was financially weak, according to locals.
Initially, citing preliminary information, police said the case appeared to be of food poisoning. However, later food safety officials suggested it could be a case of poisoning. Both departments though said the exact cause could be ascertained only after the post-mortem.
Amid Navratri festivities in the area, locals were in for a shock this morning when daily wage earner Mahesh (37), his wife Lalita (35), their daughter Mishti (7), and sons Laddu (11) and Sakshat (3) were found dead in a room of their home in Nagla Shri Padam village around 8 am.
The kids were to go to school, but the doors of the house remained shut.
Seeing the unusual, some neighbours got curious and went in to check on the family only to find them all lying motionless in the room. Soon, the police and other authorities were alerted. Forensic officials and a team from the Food Safety Department reached the spot to collect evidence and samples.
The family had gone to a local fair on Friday evening and returned around 10 pm, after which they consumed noodles for dinner, according to locals and Mahesh’s mother.
“The exact cause of the deaths is not known yet, and further legal action would be taken based on the post-mortem reports and forensic findings,” DCP Shravan Kumar Singh said.
“Prima facie, it seems to be a case of food poisoning. The post-mortem report will reveal the fact. We are sending the items recovered for examination,” he said.
BJP’s Jewar MLA Dhirendra Singh, who visited the spot, said he has apprised the chief minister’s office about the tragic incident.
“Particular attention is being paid to determine whether any toxic substance was present in the food consumed by the family or whether the deaths occurred due to some other reasons. The exact cause of the deaths can be confirmed only after the post-mortem reports are received,” he said.
“The untimely death of five members of a family, including three children, in such circumstances is deeply painful and heart-wrenching. The police, administration and food department teams are engaged in the investigation,” Singh said.
“I expect every aspect of the incident to be investigated impartially. It should be clarified at the earliest what exactly led to the tragic loss of the entire family,” he added.
Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati termed the incident “extremely heartbreaking” and a matter of concern.
In a post on X in Hindi, Mayawati said, “The news of the death of five members of the same family due to possibly consuming poisonous food in Greater Noida is extremely heartbreaking and also a matter of grave concern.
“The government must ensure a thorough investigation into the incident and take strict action against those responsible.”
The Samajwadi Party claimed that under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the BJP, adulterated food products, contaminated edibles, and toxic vegetables and fruits are being sold rampantly in the state.
“Those behind these trades in poisonous and counterfeit food items are all affiliated with the BJP. Just think how the BJP government is killing us all one by one. If the BJP remains in power, will everyone end up losing their lives?” it asked in an X post.
Food safety officials who inspected the spot said the incident appeared to be a case of poisoning, rather than food poisoning.
Food Safety Officer O P Singh said the team examined food wrappers and other materials found at the spot but did not find any expired items.
“It does not appear to be a case of food poisoning. We suspect it is a case of poisoning involving a toxic substance,” Singh told PTI Videos.
He said no information had emerged about the deceased suffering from vomiting or diarrhoea, symptoms commonly associated with food poisoning.
According to information provided by locals, foam was seen coming from the mouth of one of the children, he added.
Food Safety Officer Ravindranath Verma said the department would search the market for food items belonging to the same batch numbers as those used by the family and collect samples for testing.
Additional District Magistrate Sanjay Singh said, “It would be premature to draw any conclusion before the post-mortem reports arrive. Further action will be taken based on the findings.”
He added that the district administration was assessing what assistance could be provided to the surviving family members.
Neighbour Parashuram said the family was discovered dead on Saturday morning after children going to school noticed that the house’s door had not been opened. They climbed over the wall and opened the door, after which the family members were found lying motionless, he said.
He said the family had returned after visiting a fair the previous evening and that he was not aware of any dispute within the household. “Mahesh worked as a labourer and the couple had three children, two boys and a girl,” he added.
According to locals, all five family members were found in the same room.
The youngest child and the daughter were on a double bed along with their mother, while the father and the elder son were on a cot-like bed nearby. PTI COR KIS NAV MNK
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