19-year-old dies in Madurai after taking borax seen on YouTube for weight loss

A 19-year-old first-year college student, Kalaiyarasi, died after consuming borax (a chemical commonly used in cleaning and traditional remedies), which she purchased from a local shop after watching a social media video, police said. Kalaiyarasi, daughter of daily wager Vel Murugan (51) and Vijayalakshmi, was studying at a prominent private ladies’ college in Narimedu.

Slightly overweight, she was reportedly looking for ways to lose weight. Last week, she watched a video on a YouTube channel titled ‘ Borax to melt fat and slim body ’ . On January 16, she bought the substance from a native medicine shop near Thermutti, Keezhamasi Street, Sellur, according to police.

On January 17, she consumed it as instructed in the video. Soon after, she developed vomiting and diarrhoea. Her mother rushed her to a private hospital in Munisalai, where she received treatment and returned home . Later that evening, her symptoms returned. After another visit to a nearby hospital, she complained of severe stomach pain and blood in her stools. Around 11 pm, her condition worsened, and neighbours helped rush her to Government Rajaji Hospital, where she was declared dead en route, police said.

Her body underwent a post-mortem and was handed over to her family. Sellur police have registered a case and are investigating the incident. Authorities are examining the circumstances surrounding her death, including the influence of the social media video, but no arrests or charges have been announced yet .