New Delhi: Days after a family of four was found dead in Mumbai following a meal at home that included watermelon, the Mumbai Police Thursday said forensic analysis of the victims’ viscera and fruit samples detected traces of zinc phosphide, a highly toxic substance commonly used as a rodenticide or rat poison.
“In connection with the JJ Marg accidental death of four members of a family, the FSL (Forensic Science Laboratory) has given us the report, wherein zinc phosphide has been found in the viscera,” a senior Mumbai Police officer told ThePrint.
“The watermelon sample is also positive for zinc phosphide,” he said.
According to the National Pesticide Information Center, zinc phosphide is used in rodenticide baits. When an animal eats the bait, the acid in the animal’s stomach turns the zinc phosphide into phosphine. Phosphine is a very toxic gas. Phosphine is also released by aluminum phosphide and magnesium phosphide. These are used as fumigants in stored grain.
When zinc phosphide is eaten by either an animal or a person, stomach acid causes it to release the toxic gas phosphine.
The Mumbai Police officer said the toxic chemical compound was detected in the watermelon samples, as well as in the liver, kidney, spleen, stomach contents, bile, and abdominal fat samples collected from all four deceased.
All other food items are negative for zinc phosphide, he said.
“The FSL has submitted its report to the police, and we will study it in depth and inquire. We consult with forensic doctors. We will further investigate the matter,” he said.
Shop owner Abdullah (40), his wife Nasreen (35), and their daughters Zainab (13) and Ayesha (16) died one after the other within a little over 24 hours of a dinner at their Bhendi Bazaar home on the night of 25 April.
The family had hosted a biryani feast for five others; when the guests left, the four ate watermelon around 1–1.30 am. Soon after, they developed symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhoea.
An unnatural death case has been registered at JJ Marg police station.
Police said that now their investigation will focus on identifying how the chemical reached the watermelon. Whether it was injected into the watermelon or if the field where the watermelon grew was contaminated with the zinc phosphide.
“It is still unclear whether the poison was consumed accidentally or intentionally,” said the officer quoted above.
On this being a possible case of suicide, police said that they have also not able to identified any particular reason why the family would take any such step. The police said they have also interrogated all family members, including those present at the dinner the day the incident took place.
Police sources said that according to the post-mortem findings, several of the victims’ organs, including the brain, heart and intestines had turned green.
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FDA earlier denied presence of additives
Earlier, sources in the Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) told ThePrint that the samples collected from the watermelon had not shown presence of any additives.
A source in the FDA told ThePrint Thursday, “Our initial tests focused on food adulteration, and we did not find any additives like food colouring or artificial sweeteners. However, the FSL collected the viscera of the deceased persons, and conducted a toxicology report, which has found zinc phosphide.”
According to the FDA, meat samples collected from the spot were being checked by the BMC lab.
Before the FDA’s statement, the Maharashtra police suspected the deaths were linked to food poisoning due to eating watermelons.
However, the police had said they had not received the report by the FDA then. They said they have not received the post mortem and forensic report as well.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
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