Himalaya Harbinger, Rudrapur Bureau
An elderly man lost his life in Uttarakhand’s Pauri district when he accidentally drank toilet cleaning liquid stored in a regular water bottle, mistaking it for alcohol. The man was reportedly already intoxicated when he drank the solution, following which his health rapidly deteriorated. His family rushed him to the hospital, but he died during treatment.
The police have completed the panchnama and handed over the body to the family after a post-mortem examination.
The incident occurred in Jamnakhal village. The deceased, identified as Bhagwan Singh (67), had attended a wedding in Pauri on Sunday. According to tehsildar Diwan Singh Rawat and Kotwal of the area Amarjit Singh, Bhagwan Singh was returning home after the event in an intoxicated state. The family informed the police that the toilet cleaner had been stored in a plastic water bottle, leading to the tragic confusion.
In his inebriated state, Bhagwan Singh drank the toilet cleaner, mistaking it for alcohol. As his condition worsened, he was taken to the district hospital in Pauri, where he died during treatment on Monday, November 18. Following the post-mortem, the body was returned to the grieving family. The incident has left the villagers shocked and the family devastated.
According to reports, serving alcohol at weddings is banned in several hilly districts of Uttarakhand. Families found violating this rule face a fine. On November 15, the villagers of Udri, Uttarkashi Gajna Patti, passed a resolution, led by the Mahila Mangal Dal and Gram Pradhan Bhagchand Bisht, to prohibit alcohol consumption at marriages and other auspicious events. Under this resolution, families serving alcohol or individuals drinking at such functions face a fine of Rs 50,000 and social boycott.
