A family of four in India died under mysterious circumstances after a late-night meal that included watermelon, leading to panic in the area and the subsequent drop in sales of the popular summer fruit.

In the early hours of Sunday, 27 April, Abdullah Dokadia, 45, his wife Nasreen, 35, and their daughters Ayesha, 16, and Zainab, 13, died at their home in Pydhonie, in south Mumbai's Bhendi Bazaar area.

The family had hosted nine guests for dinner that evening and served biryani. After the relatives left, the four ate watermelon at around 1am. By 5am all were severely ill with vomiting, stomach pain, and diarrhoea, and were rushed to a local hospital in a semi-conscious state. They died within hours of each other.…