A 32-year-old woman from Jhabua district, Madhya Pradesh, tragically died after consuming a sulphas (aluminium phosphide) tablet that was mistakenly given to her by a chemist instead of a painkiller. The tablet, a known pesticide, was ingested for toothache relief, leading to fatal poisoning.

Key highlights

Fatal medication error at pharmacy

• The deceased, identified as Rekha, a resident of Dharampuri village, visited a medical store near Thandla Gate on 16 May.

• She requested medication for a toothache, and was mistakenly handed a sulphas tablet by the store attendant.

• After consuming the tablet at home, her condition rapidly deteriorated.

Confirmed death from poisoning

• Rekha was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors confirmed her death.

• A post-mortem report confirmed that the cause of death was sulphas poisoning.

Legal action and store sealing

• The victim's family filed a formal complaint.

• Jhabua Police have registered a case under Section 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

• The pharmacy has been sealed, and a probe has been launched by the Drug Control Department.

Regulatory implications

• Sulphas is a toxic pesticide, not meant for human consumption and not permitted for sale as a pharmaceutical.

• The case raises serious concerns about staff training, drug storage, and pharmacist accountability in rural and semi-urban India.

The tragic death in Jhabua underscores the urgent need for strict enforcement of pharmacy regulations, improved pharmacist training, and clear segregation of medical and toxic substances. The incident has triggered a criminal investigation and a regulatory audit of the pharmacy involved.