Four members of the Dokadia family died during treatment at Mumbai’s J J Hospital after consuming watermelon in the early hours of April 26 following a family gathering. Initial findings from the hospital’s microbiology department submitted to Mumbai police show no bacterial infection in the bodies of Abdullah Dokadia, Nasreen Dokadia, Ayesha Dokadia, and Zaineb Dokadia.

The family members suffered severe vomiting and diarrhoea hours after eating and were referred to J J Hospital, where they were declared dead during treatment. Mumbai police, forensic experts, and Food and Drug Administration officials collected all food items from the family’s last meal, including chicken pulav, watermelon, water, and other items, and sent them to the Forensic Science Laboratory for analysis.

Post-mortem viscera from the deceased was preserved for chemical analysis. The microbiology report confirmed no bacteria were detected in the blood of the victims. The exact cause of death will be determined once the forensic science laboratory submits its report, which will clarify whether any consumed food items contained poisonous substances.

Police are awaiting the forensic report to establish the definitive cause of death. The investigation remains active as authorities review chemical and toxicology results.