TELANGANA: A 19-year-old student died at a private hospital here on Saturday after a laboratory chemical was allegedly given to him by mistake instead of drinking water.
Hospital lapse alleged
Ganesh, from Chinna Anumula village in Anumula mandal of Nalgonda district, had been suffering from fever for two days. His parents brought him home from Hyderabad, where he was studying Intermediate second year at a private college, and took him to a private hospital in Miryalaguda on Saturday morning.
Formaldehyde consumed
Hospital staff advised that a paracetamol tablet be administered first. While giving the tablet, the boy's mother went in search of drinking water. Finding no water in the can near the ward, she entered the adjacent laboratory and filled a bottle from a can kept there, mistaking it for water.
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The liquid was later identified as formaldehyde. After taking two sips, Ganesh fell critically ill and died shortly after.
Police case registered
Relatives staged a protest, alleging that the hospital failed to provide drinking water and left a hazardous chemical unsecured. Police intervened and pacified the protesters.
Based on a complaint by the boy's father, Sandra Satyanarayana, police registered a case against the hospital. One Town Circle Inspector Nagabhushana Rao said an investigation is under way.