Dhenkanal, Dec 22: In a shocking incident, three members of a family died after allegedly consuming chicken curry and spinach at Itapa village under Kantabania police station in Dhenkanal district on Sunday night.

According to sources, the family had dinner late on Sunday and went to sleep. On Monday morning, when none of the family members opened the door, neighbors grew suspicious and forced entry into the house. They found three persons in critical condition and immediately rushed them to the Angul District Headquarters Hospital.

However, doctors declared all three dead on arrival. The deceased have been identified as the wife of Antaryami Sahu and their two sons, Pintu Sahu and Lintu Sahu, all residents of Itapa village.

The bodies have been kept at the Angul District Headquarters Hospital for post-mortem examination and will be handed over to the family thereafter.

The exact cause of death is yet to be ascertained. It remains unclear whether food poisoning or any other factor led to the deaths. Police from Angul and Kantabania have launched an investigation, and further details are awaited following the post-mortem report and preliminary inquiry.