Three minor sisters, including a nine-month-old infant, died under suspicious circumstances in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur district, prompting authorities to exhume their bodies for post-mortem examination, police said on Saturday.
The incident was reported from Pipora Khurd village under the Isanagar police station area. The victims have been identified as seven-year-old Poonam, three-year-old Manisha and nine-month-old Chahat, daughters of Balmukund Kushwaha.
According to preliminary information, the girls had reportedly consumed baingan bharta and roti last night before their deaths. However, officials have not yet established whether the food was linked to the deaths.
The matter came to light after authorities learnt that the family had buried the bodies without informing police or arranging post-mortem examinations. Local police, along with doctors, later reached the village and inspected the burial site.
#WATCH | Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh: On three of a family died after suspected food poisoning, SP City Arun Soni says, "... In Pipora Khurd village, Mukund Kushwaha's three girls fell ill after having dinner. At around 3am, Poonam, 7, Manisha, 4, and one more child developed… pic.twitter.com/7vmzbS51gE
— ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) August 23, 2026
Chhatarpur Chief Medical and Health Officer RP Gupta told IANS that he immediately reached the spot after receiving information. "As soon as the matter came to my notice, I reached the spot with my entire team. The police, revenue and FSL teams were also informed and called," Gupta said.
He added that teams were working to establish the circumstances leading to the deaths and determine the exact cause.
"We are collecting all relevant information and the bodies will be exhumed for post-mortem. The medical and forensic reports will help establish the actual cause of death," Gupta said.
Officials are questioning family members and examining the sequence of events before and after the girls fell ill. Forensic experts have also been called to help collect evidence.
Police said they would take further action after receiving the post-mortem and forensic reports. The exact circumstances surrounding the deaths remain unclear.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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