Kerala: Two members of a family die of suspected food poisoning; hotel in Vizhinjam shut

KOLLAM: Two members of a family in Nilamel died of suspected food poisoning. The deceased include Rashida Beevi (58) and her son-in-law, Shaji (42), of Nilamel. Six members of the family, including the two, had eaten dinner at the Asmak Hotel near the Muhyiddin Juma Masjid in Vizhinjam, Thiruvananthapuram, around 9:30 pm last night.

According to reports, the family had eaten fish. Four of them were admitted to the hospital after experiencing discomfort. Two later died. The bodies of one are being kept at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College and the other at the Parippally Medical College. Shaji’s wife, Sajimol (39), is undergoing treatment at the Parippally Hospital. Their two children were also with them. They have no health problems.

Meanwhile, police said that only after a scientific investigation will it be possible to confirm whether the cause of death was food poisoning. Following the incident, police closed the hotel’s shutters. An inspection led by the Food Safety Department will soon be conducted at the hotel. This is a hotel that operates only during the afternoon. Locals allege that it uses very old fish and that food safety officials do not even conduct inspections.