5-year-old dies after eating Kaju Paneer Curry from Surat's Sheetal Resto; four family members hospitalized, details
The case echoes Maharashtra FDA chief Tukaram Mundhe"s strict measures, like banning food on newspapers, amid calls for routine checks nationwide to prevent such tragedies.
NewsBharati 19-Aug-2026 14:06:32 PM
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On Tuesday, August 18, what began as an ordinary takeout meal turned into a tragedy for a Surat family, claiming the life of a five-year-old girl and sending four relatives to the hospital. The family believes they were sickened after eating Kaju-Paneer Curry ordered from a nearby restaurant. Five family members required hospitalization, but unfortunately, young Arya did not survive.
"We found items like chana dal to be spoiled; vegetables were slightly degraded and left uncovered, and paneer was also left exposed, all of which have been destroyed. It has come to our attention that they purchased vegetables and other items from here on August 15, after which they suffered from food poisoning; appropriate action will be taken against the owner in accordance with the Food Safety Act. Previous samples taken from this establishment had passed quality tests," she added.
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Residents of Ranujadham Society in Surat, the family had placed an order with Sheetal Restaurant. They say that around 4 am on August 16, Ashokbhai Kalsaria and one of his daughters began experiencing intense stomach pain. By 9 am, they sought treatment at a nearby clinic, but their symptoms continued to worsen. Shortly after, other members of the household also fell ill.
5-year-old Arya who died after eating at Sheetal Restaurant (NDTV)
The family was rushed to Sadvichar Hospital in the city, where Arya passed away just 15 to 20 minutes after being brought to the emergency room, relatives said. Arya's father Ashokbhai, her mother, and her two sisters remain hospitalized and are being treated for food poisoning, which doctors confirmed through testing.
Following the incident, Food Safety Officer, SMC, Sejal Vyas took cognizance of the event and inspected the hotel. “Our team arrived here early this morning in response to a complaint regarding food poisoning. We conducted an inspection and ordered the destruction of all spoiled food items. Upon learning of a young girl's death, we have shut down the entire restaurant," she said.
#WATCH | Surat, Gujarat: Restaurant shut by Health Department as one child dies, three others hospitalised in suspected food poisoning.
— ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2026
Food Safety Officer, SMC, Sejal Vyas says, “Our team arrived here early this morning in response to a complaint regarding food poisoning. We… pic.twitter.com/Sal9t9tOmu
"We found items like chana dal to be spoiled; vegetables were slightly degraded and left uncovered, and paneer was also left exposed, all of which have been destroyed. It has come to our attention that they purchased vegetables and other items from here on August 15, after which they suffered from food poisoning; appropriate action will be taken against the owner in accordance with the Food Safety Act. Previous samples taken from this establishment had passed quality tests," she added.
Health Minister Praful Pansheriya also held an emergency video conference with District Health Officer Dr Anil Patel and Surat Municipal Corporation official Dr Umrigar to assess the situation. He instructed officials to guarantee the best possible medical treatment for the surviving family members.
Additionally, the minister ordered Sheetal Restaurant to be sealed immediately and directed municipal and district health authorities to pursue firm legal action against those found responsible.
List of people who have died in India after consuming paneer at hotels or weddings
This is not the first of its kind death. In April 2026, a 20-year-old man named Vishal died after eating restaurant food that included Kadhai Paneer and Manchurian. He began vomiting soon after the meal and was declared dead at the hospital in the early hours.
Again in April 2026, an 80-year-old woman died following a suspected food-poisoning episode at a wedding where paneer and dahi bhalla were among the foods served. More than 150 people reportedly fell ill. Authorities could not conclusively establish the cause of death because an autopsy was not conducted.
In July 2026, a 75-year-old woman died after 11 family members became ill following consumption of leftover paneer curry prepared for a birthday celebration. The family ate the leftovers the following day; authorities were investigating, and the post-mortem was pending at the time of reporting.
The 75-year-old woman in Rajasthan was shifted to the hospital (India Today)
In February 2020, a 2-year-old boy reportedly died after eating roti and paneer curry at a hotel with his parents. He subsequently developed symptoms of food poisoning. His parents complained to police against the hotel.
The case echoes Maharashtra FDA chief Tukaram Mundhe's strict measures, like banning food on newspapers, amid calls for routine checks nationwide to prevent such tragedies.
Siddhi Somani
Siddhi Somani is known for her satirical and factual hand in Economic, Social and Political writing. Having completed her post graduation in Journalism, she is currently engaged in completing her Masters in Politics. The author meanwhile is also exploring her hand in analytics and statistics.