Daijiworld Media Network - Chhindwara

Chhindwara, Jan 13: Two persons have died in separate incidents in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district after allegedly consuming pedas found under mysterious circumstances, triggering concern and a police probe.

According to police, a bag containing raw vegetables and a box of sweets was found abandoned outside the PHED office in Junnardeo on January 9. The on-duty chowkidar, Dasaru Yaduvanshi (50), checked the bag and tasted some pedas from the box.

Late on January 10, Yaduvanshi was rushed to the Junnardeo health centre after he developed severe diarrhoea and vomiting. He was later referred to Chhindwara District Hospital and subsequently shifted to a private hospital, where he died on January 11. Officials said his family declined a post-mortem examination, and the cremation was conducted without an autopsy.

Police said the remaining sweets were later taken home by the family of a tea stall owner located near the spot where the box was found. Four members of the family fell ill and were admitted to the Junnardeo health centre on January 11 with similar symptoms. One of them, 72-year-old Sunder Lal Kathuria, died during treatment on January 13.

Junnardeo police station in-charge Rakesh Singh Baghel said it remains unclear what exactly caused the illness and deaths. Kathuria’s autopsy report was inconclusive, following which viscera samples and remnants of the sweets were sent to a forensic science laboratory. Samples have also been forwarded to a food testing lab to determine whether the pedas were contaminated or poisonous.

Police said investigations are continuing to ascertain the origin of the sweets and the cause behind the suspected food poisoning.