Two children die after allegedly consuming unhygienic food at Karachi restaurant

KARACHI: Two children lost their lives on Sunday afternoon allegedly due to food poisoning after consuming substandard food at a restaurant in the city's Zamzama area.

According to SSP South Peer Muhammad Shah, a woman and her two children had consumed unhygienic food from the restaurant last night and the latter also purchased candies from a stall at a children's playland in Defence Phase 4.

The woman told Geo News her children first purchased candies from the playland after which they had food at the Zamzama restaurant.

The three fell ill early Sunday morning but arrived at the hospital at around 3pm in a critical condition, hospital administration said.

The mother is still under treatment but out of danger, hospital authorities told Geo News.

Shah further said that both the eatery and the playland have been sealed and investigation into the incident is under way.

Food samples from the eatery have been sent to the food authority for testing, he said.

In addition, IG Sindh Kaleem Imam has summoned a report from SSP South.

'Investigating case from all angles'

Karachi police chief Amir Sheikh meanwhile has said that the case will be probed from all angles.

Speaking with media, he said that the police will investigate what happened inside the house and that it was "strange" that the children were taken to hospital after considerable delay.

He added that the children complained of nausea at 2am but were given milk and sent to bed. The milk's samples have been sent for testing, the police official said.

Three people have been detained in connection with the incident and are being investigated, Sheikh said.

Moreover, SSP Tariq Dharejo said that the father, who is a construction contractor residing in Lahore, has agreed to post-mortem of one of the kids.    

CM Sindh takes notice

Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah has taken notice of the incident and summoned a report from Karachi commissioner. 

The chief minister has sought details of the last inspection held at the restaurant.