Three people have died and three others remain in critical condition following a suspected food poisoning incident in Hasilpur tehsil of Bahawalpur, prompting health authorities to launch an urgent investigation.
The incident occurred in Gareeb Mohalla near Gulzar Chowk, where six members of two neighbouring families fell seriously ill after reportedly consuming a home-cooked meal.
The victims, including four teenagers and two adults, were initially taken to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital before the most critically ill patients were transferred to Bahawal Victoria Hospital.
Hospital officials confirmed that 16-year-old Manahil, her 20-year-old brother Abdul Moeez, and 13-year-old Abeeha, who lived in a neighbouring house, died after their condition deteriorated.
Three other patients — 16-year-old Amna, 22-year-old Shoaib Gill, and 16-year-old Laiba — remain in intensive care.
According to preliminary reports, the affected individuals had eaten home-cooked boiled rice before falling ill.
District administration officials and public health teams collected food and drinking water samples from the affected homes to determine the cause of the suspected poisoning.
Police cordoned off the area while forensic experts began examining the evidence to establish whether the incident was caused by contaminated food, toxic chemicals or another source.