5-year-old dies, 4 hospitalised after eating food ordered from Surat restaurant

A five-year-old girl died and four members of her family were hospitalised after they developed suspected food poisoning symptoms following a meal ordered from Sheetal Restaurant in Surat, prompting the civic body to seal the eatery.The family consulted a general practitioner on August 16, who advised them to get admitted to a hospital. (Representative image)A five-year-old girl died and four members of her family were hospitalised in Gujarat’s Surat after they allegedly fell ill following consumption of food ordered from a restaurant, officials said on Tuesday.Following the incident, the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) sealed Sheetal Restaurant in the Varachha area and issued an improvement notice after civic officials found lapses in cleanliness and hygiene at the premises.According to Medical Health Officer P H Umrigar, the family had ordered a vegetable dish from the restaurant on the evening of August 15. The following morning, all five family members developed symptoms of suspected food poisoning, including vomiting.The family consulted a general practitioner on August 16, who advised them to get admitted to a hospital. However, they initially declined hospitalisation, Umrigar said. On August 17, the five-year-old girl lost consciousness and was taken to Sadvichar Hospital, where doctors declared her dead. Her post-mortem examination is underway.The girl’s father was discharged on Tuesday morning, while her mother and two other children remain hospitalised and are in stable condition, the official said. The SMC has collected samples of ready-to-eat food and raw materials from Sheetal Restaurant for testing. Officials said the restaurant was shut after lapses in kitchen cleanliness were found, and an improvement notice was issued.Gujarat Health Minister Praful Pansheriya took cognisance of the incident and directed officials to ensure all necessary medical and administrative measures.According to an official release, Pansheriya reviewed the situation through a video conference with District Health Officer Dr Anil Patel and SMC’s Dr Umrigar. He also spoke to doctors at Sadvichar Hospital to get updates on the condition of the four hospitalised family members and directed them to ensure proper treatment.The minister also spoke to the deceased girl’s family over the phone, expressed his condolences and offered support.Following the minister’s directions, the SMC has launched a special drive across Surat to inspect restaurants and check compliance with cleanliness, hygiene and food-safety standards.- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Aug 18, 2026 23:26 IST