The mystery behind the deaths of four members of the Dokadia family in Mumbai has been solved. Forensic results have finally identified what led to the tragedy following a meal involving watermelon at their residence.
A report by the state-run Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) on Thursday revealed that traces of zinc phosphide had been found in the samples of the viscera from all the deceased.
The traces of zinc phosphide, a potent rodenticide, were also found in the watermelon samples taken from the home. The rodenticide traces were found in the liver, kidneys, stomach, bile and spleen of the deceased.
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The Dokadias had dinner with their extended family on the night of the deaths, but no relatives reported any discomfort after the meal. Only the four family members who consumed watermelon died just hours later.
Earlier, the Food and Drug Administration had submitted that there was no adulteration in the other food items collected from their home. They had ruled out watermelon as the culprit, followed by the preliminary investigation.
What is zinc phosphide?
Zinc phosphide is a highly effective toxic, inorganic chemical compound, commonly used as a rodenticide to kill rats and mice.
It is extremely dangerous to humans, and acts rapidly by releasing poisonous phosphine gas when it reacts with moisture and acid in the stomach, often leading to organ failure.
Symptoms of the poisoning could appear within 30 minutes to an hour, including severe vomiting, dizziness, diarrhoea, and breathing difficulties.
It is considered one of the deadliest household poisons, and there is no specific antidote for its toxicity.
Phosphine gas causes various metabolic and nonmetabolic toxic effects. Clinical symptoms are circulatory collapse, hypotension, shock symptoms, myocarditis, pericarditis, acute pulmonary edema, and congestive heart failure.