A Dinner's Deadly Mix-Up: West Bengal Family Hospitalized After Acid Cooking Error

Imagine the everyday ritual of dinner preparation, a moment of comfort and sustenance, suddenly morphing into a terrifying fight for survival. That's precisely the unimaginable horror that struck a family in Midnapore, West Bengal, just recently. What began as an ordinary evening meal quickly spiraled into a desperate medical emergency when four family members consumed food inadvertently cooked with acid.

The incident, frankly, is heartbreakingly simple yet utterly devastating. Kalpana Saha, a 55-year-old matriarch, was in the kitchen, like countless homemakers across the country, preparing a seemingly innocent dinner of dal, rice, and vegetables. In a tragic oversight, she reached for what she believed was a bottle of water, only to pour corrosive acid directly into the cooking pot. It was a mistake born purely out of misidentification, a moment of human error with catastrophic consequences.

Can you even begin to picture the scene? As the family – Kalpana herself, her 60-year-old husband Deben Saha, their 35-year-old son Dipa Saha, and his 30-year-old wife Ruma Saha – sat down to eat, something was terribly wrong. Almost immediately, they were seized by excruciating stomach pain. A burning sensation scorched their throats, quickly followed by violent vomiting. The realization must have dawned on them with a sickening dread – this was no ordinary food poisoning.

Their condition deteriorated rapidly, demanding immediate medical attention. They were rushed first to a local hospital, but the severity of their symptoms, the sheer corrosive nature of what they'd ingested, meant they needed more specialized care. Consequently, all four were transferred to the Midnapore Medical College and Hospital, where they are now reportedly in critical condition, battling the severe internal damage caused by the acid.

This harrowing ordeal serves as a stark, albeit tragic, reminder of the dangers of improper storage. The initial reports suggest the acid, likely muriatic acid commonly used for cleaning, was kept in a water bottle – an innocent-looking container that tragically masked its deadly contents. It’s a small oversight that has led to such immense suffering, turning an everyday kitchen into a potential hazard zone.

Authorities have naturally been informed, and investigations are underway to fully understand the circumstances surrounding this deeply unfortunate event. For now, the focus remains squarely on the recovery of the Saha family. Their story is a powerful, painful testament to how quickly an ordinary moment can turn extraordinary and devastating, underscoring the vital importance of clear labeling and careful storage of all household chemicals.