Chennai: A five-year-old boy who mistakenly consumed alcohol kept by his grandfather, thinking that it was juice, died in Vellore. The 62-year-old grandfather also died, after he fainted seeing the child's condition.


According to a report in The New Indian Express, Chinnasamy (62) had purchased a bottle of brandy from a local liquor shop. After consuming a good amount of it, he had saved the rest for later. However, he kept the bottle near himseld, and did not keep it out of his grandson Rukesh's reach.


As Chinnasamy dozed off in an inebriated state, the boy reached the bottle that he could access easily and drank the liquid from it, assuming it was juice, the report said. 


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Rukesh soon started choking and his parents rushed for help. Chinnasamy also woke up then and was shocked to see his grandson's condition. The 62-year-old, who was an asthma patient, fainted seeing the little boy suffer, the report said. 


The family rushed both of them to a private hospital where Chinnasamy was declared dead on arrival. The hospital referred Rukesh to Christian Medical College Hospital where he later died without responding to treatment.


The police sent both the bodies for post-mortem at Government Medical College Hospital in Vellore. The Thiruvalam police registered a case under unnatural death and have started investigation.


Earlier, a four-year-old child, Isakkiyammal of Shencottah, had consumed bleaching powder at home. The child started losing weight after that and suffered damage to some of her organs. She was later shifted to the Institute of Child Health Hospital in Egmore, where is currently receiving treatment and her health condition is improving.