A tragic incident highlighting the severe consequences of social media addiction and superstitious practices has unfolded in the Korba district of Chhattisgarh. In Kerakchhar village, located under the jurisdiction of the Kartala police station, 52-year-old Manglo Bai was watching video reels on her mobile phone on Saturday afternoon when the cellular network suddenly vanished. Infuriated by the unexpected interruption to her video stream, she violently slammed her phone onto the floor, shattering the device into pieces. However, her extreme rage did not subside with breaking the phone, leading her to take a fatal step shortly afterward.
Locking the Door and Consuming Pesticide
Immediately after smashing her handset, Manglo Bai walked into her room and locked the door from the inside. In a fit of intense emotion, she retrieved a bottle of poisonous pesticide kept in the house and consumed it. At the time of the incident, her younger daughter was the only other person present at home. The daughter realized something was drastically wrong when she heard persistent sounds of vomiting coming from behind the locked door. When family members managed to inspect the room, they discovered an empty pesticide bottle lying on the floor, triggering widespread panic among them.
Superstition and Delay in Seeking Emergency Care
Rather than immediately rushing the victim to a medical professional or a nearby hospital, the family members initially resorted to home remedies in an attempt to flush out the poison. Driven by superstitious beliefs and misguided practices, her husband administered water mixed with cow dung to her. This unsafe attempt at home treatment wasted critical time. As Manglo Bai's physical condition rapidly deteriorated, the family finally sought emergency medical assistance through Dial-112, which transported her to the Kartala Health Center.
Fatal Outcome at Korba Medical College Hospital
At the Kartala Health Center, medical staff administered primary care before referring her to Korba Medical College Hospital due to her critical condition. Despite intensive efforts by the medical team at the referral hospital, Manglo Bai succumbed during her treatment on Sunday night. Although the traumatic incident occurred on Saturday afternoon, the full details surrounding her death came to light on Tuesday following administrative and medical reporting procedures.
Psychological Expert Warns of Short-Form Content Risks
Addressing the psychological factors behind such sudden aggressive outbursts, psychologist Dr. Kamlesh Ratre provided key insights into the impact of continuous social media engagement. He explained that prolonged viewing of short-form video content hyperactivates the brain's reward system, heavily driven by the neurotransmitter dopamine. When an abrupt disruption occurs, such as a network drop or device removal, it can trigger acute irritability, severe anger, anxiety, and extreme restlessness in vulnerable individuals. Mental health experts strongly advise enforcing strict daily time limits on smartphone usage, recommending that individuals completely refrain from using mobile devices during meals and for at least one hour before sleeping.
