India, April 27 -- A late-night meal ended in an unimaginable tragedy in Mumbai, where a family of four died within hours of falling critically ill, in what police suspect to be a case of food poisoning.

The deaths, spanning barely half a day, have sent shockwaves through the city and triggered a multi-agency investigation into what the family consumed that night.

After returning to their home in Pydhonie, the family reportedly ate watermelon around 1 am.

Symptoms strike before dawn

Within hours, at around 5 am on Sunday, all four began experiencing severe symptoms, including vomiting and diarrhoea.

A local doctor, Dr Ziad Qureshi, who initially treated them, said the family was already in a critical state and appeared extremely exha...