Thiruvananthapuram/Kollam, February 17 Two members of a family died near Nilamel in Kollam a day ago in what is suspected to be a case of food poisoning after dining at a restaurant in Vizhinjam, police said on Tuesday.
Two other members of the same family are currently receiving treatment, police said, adding that the restaurant in question has been sealed and food safety officials will soon conduct an inspection there.
Later in the day, State Health Minister Veena George said she had asked the Food Safety Commissioner and the Director of Health Services to investigate the matter as soon as she saw news reports about the incident.
Following this, food safety officers reached the eatery and carried out inspections, she said, adding that their report is awaited.
"According to news reports, the victims ate fish. Therefore, it is necessary to determine whether anyone else who ate fish there is unwell. At present, we cannot confirm that the deaths were due to food poisoning. This can only be determined after thorough testing," the minister told reporters.
Earlier in the morning, police said that several hundred people had eaten at the same restaurant on Monday night, but there have been no other reports of anyone falling ill.
"Therefore, the exact cause of death can only be determined after the autopsy. The family said that the problem occurred after they ate at the restaurant," an officer of the Vizhinjam police station said.
The family hails from Nilamel near Chadayamangalam in Kollam district.
A case of unnatural death has been registered by the Chadayamangalam police, the officer added.
