Acid Used Instead of Water in Cooking; Six of Bengal Family Hospitalised

West Midnapore (West Bengal): Six members of a family from Ghatal are in critical condition after eating food that was unknowingly prepared using acid instead of water. The victims, including two children, were shifted to SSKM Hospital in Kolkata, where doctors say their condition remains serious.

The incident happened on November 23 in Ratneshwarbati, under the Manoharpur I Gram Panchayat of Ghatal. According to initial reports, all six family members fell ill soon after consuming the meal that had been cooked using acid.

Local authorities responded quickly after receiving information about the case. Panchanan Mandal, the health officer of Ghatal Panchayat Samiti, reached the house immediately to assess the situation. Police and administrative officers also arrived to begin preliminary inquiries into what led to the poisoning.

Early investigations suggest that the acid was regularly stored in the house because one of the family members works with copper and silver. Investigators believe it was accidentally used in the cooking process in place of water.