Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh – May 17: A 32-year-old woman from Dharampuri village in Madhya Pradesh's Jhabua district tragically died after consuming a sulphas tablet that was mistakenly given to her as a remedy for a toothache, officials said on Saturday.
According to police, the victim, Rekha, had visited a medical store near Thandla Gate on Thursday evening seeking a painkiller for her dental pain. A salesperson at the store reportedly handed her a Sulphas tablet instead. Rekha consumed the tablet at home later that night, after which her health rapidly deteriorated. She was rushed to a hospital but succumbed during treatment.
Jhabua Superintendent of Police Padma Vilochan Shukla confirmed that the incident was reported by the family on Friday. A preliminary post-mortem report identified sulfate poisoning as the cause of death.
Following the confirmation, police registered a case under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (culpable homicide not amounting to murder). The store owner, Lokendra Babel, aged 52, has been arrested in connection with the case. Authorities have also sealed the medical store and launched a full investigation.
"The Drug Control Department is now involved in determining why sulphas tablets, which are highly toxic and typically used as pesticides, were being stocked in a medical store," said SP Shukla.
Efforts are ongoing to trace and arrest the unidentified salesperson who handed over the fatal tablet to Rekha.
The incident has raised serious concerns about medical negligence and regulatory lapses in medicine sales across the region.