A 19-year-old woman in Madurai died after consuming a traditional medicine for weight loss that she learned about through a YouTube video, police said.
The deceased, identified as Kalaiyarasi of Meenambalpuram, had reportedly been following a YouTube channel that promoted the use of Vengaram (borax), a chemical substance, as a weight-reduction remedy. Acting on the video’s advice, she purchased the substance from a country medicine shop on East Masi Street on January 16.
According to police sources, Kalaiyarasi consumed the substance at her home around 9 a.m. on January 17. Shortly afterward, she began experiencing severe vomiting and diarrhoea. Alarmed by her condition, her parents rushed her to a private hospital in Munichalai, where she was treated and later discharged.
However, her symptoms returned later in the evening. She was then taken to a nearby clinic for further treatment as her condition continued to deteriorate.
Around 11 p.m., with her health worsening, her family rushed her to the Government Rajaji Hospital. Doctors there declared her dead on arrival.
Following the incident, her father, Velmurugan (51), filed a complaint at the Sellur (Law and Order) police station on January 18. Based on the complaint, police have registered a case and launched an inquiry into the suspicious death.
Authorities have cautioned the public against consuming unverified remedies promoted online and stressed the dangers of using chemical substances without medical supervision.
