This is the horrifying moment villagers in a remote Indian community celebrate a ‘miracle’ that could have ended up killing them.
Residents in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, flocked to a street hand pump when word spread like wildfire that it was delivering free milk instead of fresh water.
Phone video footage shows dozens queueing up to use the pump, filling bottles, pots and even plastic bags with the white liquid.
One is seen holding up a litre of the white liquid in a plastic drink bottle beaming at the camera in delight.
Some can even be heard saying prayers to give thanks for the miracle of the freebie at the government-installed pipe on 25th November.
But the grim truth emerged soon after police had to intervene to control the crowds.
Health officials had to close the pump after it emerged that the white liquid was not milk but, in fact, severely polluted water.
Local official Rajbahadur Singh explained that an internal fault in the pump had contaminated the water.
Police have since sealed the tap to stop it being used until it can be repaired, he told local media.
It is unclear if anyone fell ill after drinking the contaminated water.
