
A Bengaluru man was hospitalised after consuming datura seeds ordered through a quick-commerce platform that promised 10-minute delivery. The incident has revived attention to the plant's known toxicity and the risks of…
A Bengaluru man was hospitalised after consuming datura seeds ordered through a quick-commerce platform that promised 10-minute delivery. The incident has revived attention to the plant's known toxicity and the risks of its unregulated online sale.

Datura has a long history of medicinal use in India but causes severe illness when taken in excess. The man's overdose led to hospitalisation, though his current condition has not been disclosed. No action by authorities has been reported so far.
Datura poisoning cases surface periodically across India, often from accidental consumption or misuse in traditional remedies. The plant's seeds contain tropane alkaloids that can cause delirium, seizures and respiratory failure. Under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and the Poisons Act, 1919, states regulate sale of toxic substances, but quick-commerce platforms occupy a regulatory grey area. The Karnataka government may need to clarify whether such seeds fall under scheduled poison lists, and if platforms can be held liable for selling them without warnings. The victim's medical outcome and any police complaint will determine whether this remains a single case or prompts a broader review.
Source: deccanherald.com
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