Two Chennai men 'develop' and test 'vaccine' for coronavirus, one dies

CHENNAI: Cooking experiments might work at home, how about science experiments? Not always! Things backfired in unexpected ways for two men in Chennai while they were trying to develop a

vaccine

for coronavirus. The experiment cost one of them his life.

The deceased has been identified as K Sivanesan, who has been working as a production manager for 27 years at a pharmaceutical company that manufactures cough syrup and shampoos.

The company is owned by Dr Raj Kumar, who is also from Chennai. While their office is in Kodambakkam, the factory outlet is located in Uttarakhand.

Sivanesan was unable to visit the factory due to the lockdown. Dr Raj Kumar and Sivanesan decided to engage in testing and manufacturing medicines at their homes in the city.

On Thursday, when the duo met at Dr Raj Kumar’s house in Pondy Bazaar in T Nagar, they decided to consume a solution which had sodium nitrate in it. They thought it would work as a vaccine for

Covid-19

and also improve platelets count in the body. They both developed uneasiness after consuming it. They were rushed to a private hospital in

T Nagar

by family members.

Sivanesan was declared dead on Friday, and Dr Raj is currently undergoing treatment. Sivanesan’s body has been sent for a postmortem.

The Teynampet police registered a case and were investigating.