KARACHI – The death toll from alleged food poisoning victims rose to six as another victim passed away on Saturday morning.
Earlier, five children from the same family, whose ages ranged from 1.5 to 9 years, died of suspected food poisoning after dining at a restaurant located in Karachi’s Saddar area, police said on Friday.
A paternal aunt to the five children who died a day before, Beena Badruddin, 28, passed away after she remained admitted in the ICU for a day, reported Express Tribune.
The family, including Badruddin, had only arrived in the port city from Quetta on Thursday night.
Following the incident, the Sindh Food Authority submitted a report on the matter to the chief minister.
Several cabinet members and lawmakers reached the hospital to condole the bereaved parents.
A three-member investigation committee was formed to determine the cause of death of the six family members.
The committee headed by DIG South Sharjeel Kharal comprises SSP South Pir Muhammad Shah and SSP Investigation Tariq Dharejo.
The committee said the samples of various food items and body parts of the deceased will be sent for forensic testing to three laboratories.
“The food authority will get food samples tested by a private laboratory while the committee will send body parts of the deceased to the laboratory in Karachi University and Punjab Forensic Lab,” the committee stated.
Last year, two minor brothers died of food poisoning and their mother was hospitalised after dining out at a high-end restaurant in an upscale neighbourhood of Karachi.
