KEY POINTS
- A nurse, infected with Nipah virus in December, died on Thursday.
- Viral clip showed New Delhi stadium staff repouring leftover soft drinks from used glasses into bottles.
- The video sparked fears of resale and mass health risks during the T20 World Cup.
ISLAMABAD: India has found itself battling twin crises as a West Bengal health worker infected with the Nipah virus died on Thursday, while authorities scrambled to contain public anger over hygiene lapses at New Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium during the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
The convergence of an active viral outbreak and safety lapses at a major sporting venue has intensified questions about the country’s public health preparedness and event management standards.
🚨🇮🇳 DISGUSTING NEWS
Indian cricket stadium staff are mixing leftover drinks from used cups and serving them again to new fans across the world during matches.
This is the reality, but still they spread propaganda against others. Boycott cricket in India. pic.twitter.com/v2Ymyvm5fI
— Zard si Gana (@ZardSi) February 12, 2026
A viral video has thrown the spotlight on hygiene protocols at one of the tournament’s premier venues.
The clip seemingly captures food and beverage staff repouring unfinished soft drinks from used tumblers into large plastic containers, raising suspicion that the contents were being collected for redistribution during future matches.
The visuals sparked immediate condemnation from spectators and online users, who characterised the act as a serious breach of hygiene norms.
Many demanded that tournament organisers step in to investigate and mandate strict compliance with food safety regulations at all match venues.
Leftover drinks reportedly reused at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium in ICC T20 World Cup. 😱
Isn’t this harmful for health? @T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/iK1LTCI8zl
— Tejasswi Prakash (@Tiju0Prakash) February 12, 2026
Thus far, no official clarification has come from the Arun Jaitley Stadium administration, the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), or the aerated drink brand implicated in the footage.
Nipah virus claims life of Nurse
In a parallel development, West Bengal’s health department confirmed the death of a 25-year-old nursing staff member who had tested positive for the Nipah virus in December.
According to Health Secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam, the woman suffered cardiac arrest following an extended period of critical illness.
She was among two individuals diagnosed with the infection in the state. The other patient, a male nurse, was declared fit and discharged in January.
Officials noted that all 196 primary contacts of both cases have since tested negative, suggesting the outbreak was contained at an early stage.
> This is the capital of Vishwaguru, Delhi
> Matches are organised in a stadium
> People buy cold drinks at 10× the market price inside the stadium
> Some people leave their cold drinks in glasses
> Staff refill those leftover drinks into new bottles and sell them again
— Dr Nimo Yadav 2.0 (@DrNimoYadav) February 12, 2026
Nipah was first recorded in India in West Bengal two decades ago, after its initial discovery in Malaysia in 1998.
The southern state of Kerala has witnessed repeated episodes, including major outbreaks in 2018 and 2023 that claimed multiple lives.
The virus is known to cause severe symptoms ranging from persistent fever and vomiting to respiratory failure and brain inflammation, with a mortality rate estimated between 40 and 75 per cent.
Growing calls for accountability
As India’s World Cup campaign advances on the field, off-field events have cast a shadow over the nation’s capacity to manage concurrent health and operational challenges.
Advocacy groups and cricket fans alike are pressing authorities for transparent investigations and immediate remedial measures.
