CHENNAI: Three children swooned on Wednesday after eating a watermelon which was found littered on a vacant land at Nerkunam village near Madurantakam. All three were immediately admitted to the Government Hospital in Chengalpet, where they received treatment. Their condition is said to be out of danger.Police said Gnanasekaran’s daughter Aishwarya, 4, and son Darshan, 3, along with their neighbour Valli, 8, daughter of Murugan, went to play on a vacant land near a farm when the incident happened. According to police, the kids were playing hide and seek when Aishwarya spotted a watermelon sliced into pieces lying near a bush. All three ate it and swooned even before they could reach home.As the kids were missing for a while, their parents searched for them and one of their neighbours found them lying unconscious on the farmland. They were then taken to the Chengalpet government hospital.Police suspect that the watermelon might have been laced with poisonous substances by some residents of the area to kill birds that damaged crops. Inquiries revealed that, some of the villagers left behind food mixed with chemicals for birds to prevent them from destroying crops.Meanwhile, concerned villagers urged police to investigate the matter and book the perpetrators who had allegedly laced the fruit with poisonous substance.The Achirappakkam police said though the parents were not willing to lodge any complaint, the villagers feared that the perpetrators might repeat the act. Police are inquiring nearby land owners. No case has been registered so far.

Stay updated with all the Chennai Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.