Key Update

A 15-year-old boy died, and three other children fell ill after allegedly consuming watermelon in Chhattisgarh’s Janjgir-Champa district. The incident comes weeks after four members of a family died in a suspected watermelon-linked case in Mumbai. The children had travelled to their maternal uncle’s house in Ghurkot village after attending a wedding. According to district hospital civil surgeon Dr S Kujur, they consumed cut watermelon kept at the house on Sunday evening.

A few hours later, Akhilesh Dhivar (15) developed vomiting, diarrhoea, and breathing difficulties. Soon, the other three children also showed similar symptoms. Family members rushed them to the district hospital on Monday, where doctors declared Akhilesh dead on arrival. The other three children remain under treatment.

Contamination Suspected

Officials suspect contamination because the watermelon had reportedly been cut in the morning and consumed several hours later. Authorities have sent the teenager’s viscera samples for forensic analysis and forwarded another watermelon from the house for laboratory testing. Officials said they will confirm the exact cause only after receiving the reports.

Mumbai Case Under Investigation

The Chhattisgarh incident follows the deaths of four members of a family in Mumbai’s Pydhonie area last month after they reportedly consumed watermelon at home. According to reports, forensic tests later detected zinc phosphide, a toxic chemical used in rat poison, in the samples collected from the deceased family members. Investigators are continuing the probe into the case.

Source: News18