Chhattisgarh teen dies hours after eating watermelon, 4 others fall sick
Five children fell ill in Chhattisgarh's Ghurkot village after eating watermelon and other food at a house. One boy died and officials are investigating suspected food poisoning as four others remain stable.
What began as a cheerful family visit after a wedding ended in panic, hospital rush and death in a Chhattisgarh village, after five children suddenly collapsed within hours of eating watermelon kept inside a home.
Wedding trip turns tragic as Chhattisgarh boy dies after eating watermelon
A joyful visit after a wedding ceremony ended in heartbreak in Chhattisgarh’s Janjgir-Champa district when five children suddenly fell violently ill after eating watermelon, leaving one teenager dead and four others fighting for recovery in hospital.
The tragedy unfolded in Ghurkot village on Monday afternoon. Laughter and post-wedding celebrations quickly turned into chaos after the children began vomiting, complaining of severe stomach distress and struggling to breathe just hours after eating watermelon kept at the house.
By the time their families rushed them towards the district hospital, 15-year-old Akhilesh Dheewar had stopped responding.
Doctors later declared him dead.
CHILDREN FELL ILL WITHIN HOURS
According to officials, the children had arrived in their maternal uncle’s village after attending a wedding function. Around 12 pm, they reportedly ate watermelon along with other food items at the house.
What followed left the entire village shaken.
Within nearly two hours, all five children began suffering from vomiting, diarrhoea and breathing difficulties. Their condition deteriorated rapidly, triggering panic among family members, who scrambled to take them to hospital.
The children were identified as Akhilesh Dheewar from Podi Dalha, Shri Dheewar from Avreed, Pintu Dheewar from Khatola, Narendra Dheewar and Hitesh Dheewar from Kotgarh.
Despite desperate efforts by relatives, Akhilesh died on the way to the district hospital.
FEARS OF FOOD POISONING
The sudden illness and death sparked fears of food poisoning, prompting the district administration to launch an urgent investigation.
Collector Janmejay Mahobe took cognisance of the incident soon after receiving information. Teams from the health department and administration reached both the village and the district hospital as concern spread over what exactly caused the children to collapse.
Officials collected samples of watermelon and other food items consumed by the children and sent them for laboratory testing.
To determine the exact cause of death, doctors preserved viscera samples after the post-mortem examination.
FOUR CHILDREN STILL UNDER OBSERVATION
Doctors said the remaining four children are stable, though they continue to remain under close medical supervision.
Dr S Kujur, Civil Surgeon at the district hospital, said, “Five children from Ghurkot village were brought to the district hospital after complaints of vomiting, diarrhoea and breathing difficulty. Treatment was started immediately for all of them.”
“During treatment, one child died, while the condition of the other four children is stable at present. Prima facie, the case appears to be food poisoning. The children had consumed watermelon and other food items, so samples have been sent for examination. The exact reason will become clear only after the report arrives,” he added.
As investigators await the laboratory findings, grief and fear continue to hang over the village where a routine summer snack turned into a tragedy within hours.