13-Year-Old Girl Dies After Consuming Forbidden Carbonated Drink

A 13-year-old girl died reportedly after consuming an aerated drink that entered her respiratory system.

The deceased teen, identified as Dharini of Odaikuppam in Chennai, India, died on Tuesday, August 3, police said.

"Dharini had breathing-related issues and had been advised not to take cold food, according to her father's statement," said police, DT Next reported.

According to the police, the teen might have vomited soon after consuming the aerated drink, causing it to enter her respiratory system.

On Tuesday afternoon, Dharini went to a shop near home and bought a bottle of carbonated drink.

However, her sister Aswini spotted the teen consuming the drink which her doctors had advised her to stay away from. The sister immediately snatched the bottle from the teen.

As her sister stepped out, the girl grabbed the bottle and tried to finish the drink, but she immediately started vomiting. When she tried to control it, the carbonated fluid entered her respiratory system, police said.

The girl reportedly collapsed on the spot. She was rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors declared her brought dead.

Sastri Nagar police were alerted about the incident and officers were dispatched to the hospital. Responding officers retrieved the girl’s body and sent it to the Government Royapettah Hospital for an autopsy.

The exact cause of death is unclear at this time as the autopsy results were being awaited

The police have registered a case and further probe is underway, authorities said.

Meanwhile, officials from the food safety department visited the drink manufacturing unit in Sholavaram and collected samples.

"About 540 bottles of the same batch which were sent to different shops have been recalled. The samples will be sent for analysis and further action will be based on the report. As a precaution, the unit will be closed till further notice," said Raja Mohammed, food safety officer.

In a similar but unrelated incident, a father and his teen son died and three others of the family were hospitalized after eating macaroni that was cooked at their home.

The incident happened at the Naroda village in the Khutar area of India’s Uttar Pradesh on July 11.

45-year-old Shankarlal and his 17-year-old son Rajnish along with three other family members started experiencing discomfort and began vomiting after eating the food.

The family members consulted a quack in the village who treated them at their home. However, Shankarlal died after a short while.

After Rajnish’s condition started deteriorating he and three other members of the family were rushed to a nearby hospital.

The teen boy was pronounced dead at the hospital. The other family members were receiving treatment at the hospital.