Three sisters die in Chhatarpur under suspicious circumstances, bodies exhumed
Synopsis
Three sisters aged seven, three, and nine months died under unexplained circumstances in a Chhatarpur village — and their family buried them without informing police or arranging post-mortems. That procedural breach triggered a multi-agency response involving forensic, police, and revenue teams. Whether food poisoning, foul play, or something else is responsible remains unresolved pending autopsy results.
Key Takeaways
Three minor sisters — Poonam (7) , Manisha (3) , and Chahat (9 months) — died under suspicious circumstances in Pipora Khurd village , Chhatarpur , Madhya Pradesh .
The family buried the bodies without informing police or arranging post-mortem examinations, prompting authorities to order exhumation.
The girls had reportedly consumed baingan bharta and roti the night before their deaths; a food link has not been confirmed.
Chief Medical and Health Officer R.P.
Gupta reached the spot with his team and coordinated with police, revenue, and FSL teams.
Police will take further action only after post-mortem and forensic reports are received; the cause of death remains undetermined.
Three minor sisters — including a nine-month-old infant — died under suspicious circumstances in Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh, prompting authorities to exhume their bodies for post-mortem examination, police said on Saturday, 22 August. The deaths, which occurred in Pipora Khurd village under the Isanagar police station area, have set off a multi-agency investigation involving police, revenue officials, and forensic teams.
Who the Victims Were
The deceased have been identified as Poonam, aged seven; Manisha, aged three; and Chahat, aged nine months — all daughters of Balmukund Kushwaha. According to preliminary information, the girls had reportedly consumed baingan bharta and roti the previous night before their deaths. Officials have not yet established whether the food was linked to the fatalities.
How the Case Came to Light
The matter surfaced after authorities learnt that the family had buried the bodies without informing police or arranging post-mortem examinations — a procedural lapse that triggered immediate concern. Local police, accompanied by doctors, subsequently reached the village and inspected the burial site. The bodies were ordered to be exhumed for forensic and medical examination.
What Officials Said
Chhatarpur Chief Medical and Health Officer R.P. Gupta said he rushed to the spot upon receiving information. 'As soon as the matter came to my notice, I reached the spot with my entire team. The police, revenue and FSL teams were also informed and called,' Gupta said. He added that all relevant information was being gathered and that medical and forensic reports would help establish the actual cause of death. 'We are collecting all relevant information and the bodies will be exhumed for post-mortem. The medical and forensic reports will help establish the actual cause of death,' he said.
Investigation Under Way
Officials are questioning family members and examining the sequence of events before and after the girls fell ill. Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) experts have been called to collect evidence from the site. Police stated they would take further action only after receiving the post-mortem and forensic reports. The exact circumstances surrounding the deaths remain unclear.
What Happens Next
This is not an isolated pattern in rural Madhya Pradesh, where delayed reporting of child deaths — particularly in remote villages — has previously complicated investigations. The involvement of the FSL and revenue teams signals that authorities are treating the case with heightened seriousness. Results of the post-mortem and forensic analysis are expected to determine whether foul play, food poisoning, or other causes were responsible.
Point of View
This pattern recurs: families, fearing scrutiny or unaware of legal obligations, bypass mandatory reporting, destroying the evidentiary trail that could establish cause of death. Whether this was negligence, fear, or concealment is precisely what investigators must determine. The involvement of FSL teams is the right call, but the window for clean forensic evidence narrows with every hour after exhumation. If food poisoning is confirmed, it raises a broader public health question about food safety in the region. If it is not, the investigation enters far murkier territory.
NationPress
23 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh on 22 August?
Three minor sisters — aged seven, three, and nine months — died under suspicious circumstances in Pipora Khurd village in Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh. Authorities ordered their bodies exhumed for post-mortem after the family buried them without informing police.
Who were the three girls who died in Chhatarpur?
The deceased were Poonam (7), Manisha (3), and Chahat (9 months), all daughters of Balmukund Kushwaha, residents of Pipora Khurd village under the Isanagar police station area in Chhatarpur.
Was food poisoning responsible for the deaths?
It has not been confirmed. The girls had reportedly consumed baingan bharta and roti the night before their deaths, but officials said no link between the food and the deaths has been established yet. Post-mortem and forensic reports are awaited.
Why were the bodies exhumed?
The family buried the girls without informing police or arranging mandatory post-mortem examinations. Once authorities learnt of the deaths, they reached the village, inspected the burial site, and ordered exhumation to determine the cause of death through medical and forensic analysis.
What is the current status of the investigation?
A multi-agency team comprising police, revenue officials, and Forensic Science Laboratory experts is on the ground. Family members are being questioned. Police have stated that further action will be taken only after the post-mortem and forensic reports are received.
