Three Siblings Die in Nowshera After Eating Contaminated Sweets
Mother in Critical Condition as Police Investigate Food Poisoning Case
Nowshera, May 19, 2025 – Police confirmed that three siblings died and their mother remains in critical condition after the family consumed contaminated sweets in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Nowshera district.
The family ate mithai (traditional sweets) with tea at their home on Sunday night. Shortly afterward, their health rapidly declined. Police spokesperson Turk Ali Shah said, “The family had consumed mithai, after which their condition deteriorated. Three siblings have died after consuming poisonous food. Their mother is in critical condition.”
Victims Identified After Consuming Contaminated Sweets; Mother Hospitalized
Doctors at Qazi Hussain Ahmad Medical Complex declared the children — Maryam (8), Hareem (6), and Muhammad Yaman (4) — dead on arrival. The children’s mother, whose name has not been released, received emergency treatment and remains in serious condition.
Medical staff continue to monitor her closely.
Police Launch Investigation into Poisonous Sweets Incident
Bakht Sher, the children’s father, filed a complaint with local authorities. Police opened a case and began collecting food samples from the scene. Shah confirmed, “We are conducting a full investigation to determine the cause of the deaths.”
Investigators suspect the family consumed contaminated sweets and are awaiting forensic results to confirm the presence of toxic substances.
The Nowshera incident reflects a pattern of food-related fatalities in Pakistan. In April, three children died and five others were hospitalized in Hafizabad after eating poisonous sweets. Last year, forensic reports linked the deaths of 13 family members in Khairpur to tainted milk.
Health officials urged consumers to avoid unverified or unpackaged food items. They stressed the need for food safety inspections and regulatory enforcement.
Police assured the public that they would identify the source of the poisoning and hold those responsible accountable. The tragedy has renewed calls for stricter oversight to prevent deaths caused by contaminated sweets.
