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In Pydhonie, where panic had recently cleared fruit carts of watermelon, the investigation into the Dokadia family deaths is shifting focus — from suspected food poisoning to a critical unanswered question: how did morphine enter the body?

Dr Zaid Qureshi, who first attended to the family at the Mogal Building before they were rushed to the hospital, said the case may have been misread from the outset.

“Everyone is talking about what they ate. But the real question is — how did morphine enter the body? That is the central issue,” he told mid-day. He stressed that morphine is a tightly controlled drug.

The Mogal Building, where the Dokadia family resided. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

“It is used only in regulated hospital environments, mostly for terminally ill or ventilated patients. Its presence in a routine domestic setting raises serious questions,” he said.

Fear eases, but slowly

At the Mogal Building, the family’s locked flat remains a stark reminder for residents. Police from JJ Marg police station said the probe is ongoing, with the forensic science laboratory (FSL) report expected on Monday.

In Null Bazar, fruit vendors are cautiously returning to normal. “For two days, nobody even asked for watermelon. Now some people have started again, but still hesitantly,” said a staffer at Fardeen Juice Centre, requesting anonymity.

Most vendors are still avoiding watermelon, opting to sell papaya and mango. “Trust once broken takes time to rebuild,” said a local resident.

Dr Zaid Qureshi. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

Timeline: What happened

April 25 (night): Family has, watermelon
April 26 (early morning): All four fall ill, rushed to the hospital
April 26: Deaths reported within hours
April 27-29: FDA collects samples
April 30 onwards: Food contamination ruled out
Postmortem: Morphine traces detected
Current status: FSL report awaited

Food angle ruled out

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ruled out adulteration or poisoning in all samples collected from the house, including:
>> Watermelon
>> Biryani
>> Drinking water
>> Spices
>> Despite this, unease persists in the locality.

Probe turns to ‘access trail’

Investigators are now examining how morphine could have reached the victims.
Key areas under scrutiny include:
>> Medical history of the family
>> Any prescriptions or ongoing treatment
>> Recent hospital visits
>> Possible indirect exposure routes
“The answer may not lie in the kitchen, but in access. Until that is established, conclusions will remain incomplete,” Dr Qureshi said.

Neighbours remain uneasy

Residents say fear has reduced, but not disappeared. “We are slowly returning to normal, but mentally it’s difficult to forget,” said a neighbour. “Even if watermelon is safe, the incident has shaken everyone. It’s not easy to move on,” another added.