Four die after drinking herbal potion in Tenkasi

The incident happened in the morning when Muthupandi (54), who ‘prepared’ medicines to treat blood pressure and diabetes at his farm in Tenkasi, had gone to Azhagapuram to supply medicine for his regular patients.

During his visit, the neighbour of one of his patients Irulandi (40) asked him whether the ‘medicines’ would actually cure blood pressure and diabetes. Irulandi also told Muthupandi that if he proved the efficiency of the drug, he would also join in the treatment. 

To prove that the drug actually worked, Muthupandi first drank the potion that ‘cured’ diabetes and claimed that he was safe. Muthupandi then administered the medicine to Irulandi, Balasubramanian (30), Soundarapandiyan (54) and Swaminathan. After a gap of around 30 minutes, Muthupandi experienced nausea, vomited and later fainted. Soon, the other four persons also collapsed and fainted. 

Immediately, all the five were rushed to Tenkasi Government Hospital. Except Swaminathan, the other four including Muthupandi died at the hospital. Swaminathan was later taken to Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital for further treatment. 

Tenkasi Police have booked a case and are investigating. Police suspect the herbal drink to be either contaminated or prepared by mixing poisonous substances. The samples of the drugs would be sent for chemical analysis, police said.