‘Faridabad teen dies after mistaking rodent poison for cough syrup’

Bottle placed near cough syrup led to mix-up; symptoms misread initially, condition worsened before she was taken to civil hospital.

An 18-year-old girl died after allegedly consuming a substance meant for killing rodents instead of cough syrup at Sector 4 in Faridabad, police said on Wednesday.

Police cite family’s claim of no foul play; delayed identification of poisoning may have affected treatment, inquiry underway (Getty Images)

The deceased, a Class 12 student at a private school in Faridabad, had reportedly fallen ill last week with cough and cold and was prescribed medication by a doctor, the family told police.

According to police, the incident allegedly took place on Saturday evening after she returned home and the prescribed syrup was placed near a bottle containing a poisonous liquid used for rodent control. Yashpal Sharma, public relations officer of Faridabad police, said, “On Saturday evening, she accidentally drank the poison instead of taking the syrup. Within an hour she fell ill and started vomiting. Parents rushed her to a doctor for treatment.” Police said no other angle is being investigated, adding that the probe has established the girl consumed the poison by mistake, as the bottle was found partially empty while the cough syrup remained unused

Investigators said neither the victim nor her parents initially realised that her symptoms were due to the rat poison, which may have prevented timely diagnosis. She was treated by a doctor and sent home with medicines, but her condition worsened by Monday evening, following which she was taken to Badshah Khan civil hospital.

The PRO said the deceased’s family did not allege any foul play. “An inquiry under section 194 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita is being carried out at Sector 8 police station on Tuesday,” he said. The body was handed over to the family after an autopsy.

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