Zinc phosphide killed the family of four in Mumbai watermelon case: All about the toxic rat poison that can kill you in minutes

The investigation into the Mumbai watermelon case has finally been solved after eleven days and 54 tests and it was found that the rat poison zinc phosphide was the reason behind the deaths of the Dokadia family. The case has turned the spotlight on zinc phosphide, which claimed the lives of four people identified as Abdullah Dokadia (44), his wife Nasreen (35), and daughters Ayesha (16) and Zainab (12). Forensic experts say that this particular rat poison, found in the watermelon that family had consumed on the fatal night, has the capacity to release a lethal gas and can kill a person within hours.

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What is Zinc phosphide and how it kills?

According to medical experts, zinc phosphide is an inorganic compound that contains phosphorus and zinc, widely used as a rat poison. Zinc phosphide is a very toxic gas and once released into the stomach, it reacts with acid in the stomach and produces phosphine gas- an extremely toxic substance that spreads through the body. The gas then crosses into the body's cells, stops them from producing energy. This causes the cells to die, cutting down the oxygen levels.


Forensic experts have pointed out that even a small dose of zinc phosphide can turn out to be very fatal. The person can only be saved if he/she reaches the hospital within a one-hour window. All the medical efforts can fail if time lapses. The gas released by the poison can severely impact the lungs.

“The gas impacts the lungs and rapidly reduces oxygen levels,” a forensic official told TOI, shedding light that the younger child likely died first because her body could not withstand the toxin.

Doctors explained to TOI that once the poison enters the body, it starts acting quickly and symptoms can begin within 30 minutes to an hour ranging from vomiting, dizziness, breathing difficulty and convulsions. In severe cases, liver and kidney failure, delirium, and coma can occur.

Why is treatment so difficult?

The timing in poisoning cases is extremely important, according to medical experts. Dr Hemalata Arora, an internal medicine specialist, told TOI that stomach wash procedures are effective only if performed within roughly one hour of ingestion. “Once the stomach is empty, there is nothing left to wash out,” she said.

Doctors at Sir JJ Hospital reportedly performed stomach wash procedures and provided intensive medical treatment, but were unable to save the family. Experts noted that even a small amount of zinc phosphide can be deadly. Since the poison is also easily accessible, authorities have not ruled out either accidental or intentional consumption.

Dr Rukmani Krishnamurthy, former FSL director, said zinc phosphide is highly toxic and the deadly dose is very low. "It is also easily available. It could either be an intentional ingestion or it could be that somebody put it inside."

Family ate biryani, watermelon

On April 26, the family of four invited their relatives for a feast of chicken pulao. After the guests left, only these four consumed watermelon at 1.30 am and merely hours after they ate the fruit, they started experiencing discomfort, vomiting, and diarrhea. They were rushed to hospitals where they died one after the other. Zainab was the first to die around 10 am, while Abdullah was the last one to die around 10 pm.

The police and FSL team are yet to decide if to treat this case as homicidal, accidental or suicidal. There was no indication of rat poison in the Dokadia house, police said.

(With TOI inputs)