7-year-old dies in suspected food poisoning in Satna, three family members hospitalised
A seven-year-old boy died and three members of his family fell seriously ill in Madhya Pradesh’s Satna district after a suspected case of food poisoning, officials said on Friday.
The incident took place in Parsmania village under the Unchehra block of Satna district.
According to the family, they ate homemade bitter gourd curry and rotis on the night of May 20. Later, they drank bael juice. Soon after, several members of the family started vomiting and complained of diarrhoea and dizziness.
The child’s grandfather, Baboolal Dahiya, said his grandson Kishun, 7, developed severe symptoms late at night.
By the time the family prepared to take him to hospital the next morning, the child had died at home.
Kishun’s elder brother Shivam Dahiya, 12, remains admitted to hospital and is undergoing treatment. Doctors described his condition as serious.
The child’s grandparents, Baboolal Dahiya, 65, and Shanti Bai, 55, also fell ill. Doctors shifted them from the district hospital to a private nursing home for treatment.
“Doctors suspect a severe case of food poisoning, while officials continue to investigate the exact source of contamination.”
Dr Divyant Gupta, who is treating the patients, said all three patients showed symptoms of severe diarrhoea linked to food poisoning.
Officials examine multiple causes
Health officials are investigating several possible reasons behind the illness and death.
Pesticide contamination angle
Unchehra Block Medical Officer Dr AK Rai said preliminary findings pointed towards pesticide contamination.
According to officials, the family had sprayed pesticide on bitter gourd plants growing behind their house earlier that day. Family members later harvested the vegetables and cooked them at night.
The health department suspects pesticide residue may have caused the poisoning.
Bael juice under scanner
Family members also raised suspicion over the bael juice consumed after dinner.
Baboolal Dahiya claimed symptoms appeared soon after the family drank the juice.
Contaminated water theory
Some villagers said the family had been using well water for drinking purposes for a long time. They suspect contaminated water may have triggered diarrhoea during the peak summer season.
However, Dr Rai said initial findings do not support the contaminated water theory.
Health department issues advisory
After the incident, the health department deployed medical teams in the village.
Officials advised residents to avoid stale food during extreme summer heat. They also urged people to boil or filter well water before drinking it.
The department further warned villagers against consuming vegetables immediately after pesticide spraying.
Meanwhile, a Public Health Engineering (PHE) team reached the village and collected water samples from the family’s well for laboratory testing. Officials also added disinfectant powder to clean the well water.
