Rs 800 to use the toilet': Shocking exploitation of elderly woman sparks outrage near Rajasthan temple

An alarming event has recently come to light near the sacred Khatu Shyam Temple in Rajasthan, where a hotel allegedly billed an elderly woman Rs 805 simply for using their restroom for six minutes. In a blatant breach of moral conduct, the hotel shamelessly exploited the woman, who was desperately searching for a sanitary facility amid a sudden health crisis. A relative of the woman narrated the harrowing ordeal in a LinkedIn post, which has since garnered widespread attention online.

While en route to the temple for darshan, the elderly woman suddenly fell gravely ill, experiencing acute stomach pain and overwhelming nausea. Unable to remain on her feet, her family frantically searched for a restroom nearby, but found none within close proximity. The only available options were basic public bathing facilities, which were far from suitable for her critical condition, forcing the family to seek help at a nearby hotel.

Instead of offering compassion, the hotel’s front desk staff coldly demanded a staggering Rs 800-plus fee for just a few minutes of restroom use, despite clearly observing the woman’s distress and fragile state. Faced with no viable alternative amid the emergency, the family reluctantly paid the unreasonable amount.

Detailing the incident, the LinkedIn user wrote, "While we were waiting, my mother suddenly became extremely unwell — she experienced sharp stomach cramps, severe nausea, and an urgent need to vomit. My father frantically searched for a restroom while we tried to support Maa. There was not a single usable restroom within a kilometer near the temple. A few public bathing facilities existed, but no proper toilets. She could barely remain standing, visibly suffering."

The post continued, "We hurried to a nearby hotel and pleaded with the person at reception—'We don't need a room, just access to the restroom for five to ten minutes. Please, it's an emergency.’ The receptionist looked at my mother's pitiful state and still said, ‘Rs 800 to use the restroom.’ We were stunned. No compassion. No second thought."

"Even now, I can't understand," the family member added, "how someone can witness a woman in pain and still choose to put a price on basic humanity." What kind of society are we becoming?"

When the woman’s husband requested an official bill, the receptionist engaged in unethical behavior, suggesting that if they didn’t ask for a formal receipt, he would reduce the fee by Rs 100 — a clear indication of shady practices.

The incident outraged people across social media, particularly because it occurred at a religious site revered by millions of devotees nationwide. The receptionist’s heartless attitude and blatant profiteering, especially towards a person in urgent need, drew widespread condemnation for lacking the basic decency expected in moments of human crisis.