Woman charged Rs 805 for six minutes in washroom in Rajasthan: ‘No empathy, no hesitation’

But things took a troubling turn soon when Upadhyay’s mother began to feel extremely unwell while they were waiting. “Nausea, stomach pain, and a strong urge to vomit,” she wrote, detailing her mother’s condition. In urgent need of a washroom, the family searched the temple area but couldn’t find any proper facility. “A few public bathing areas, but no proper restrooms. She was in visible pain, barely able to stand,” the post said.

With no other options and her mother in pain, the family rushed to a nearby hotel. They pleaded with the hotel staff. “’We don’t need a room, just the restroom, just for 5-10 minutes. Please, it’s an emergency’,” Upadhyay wrote. But the response was shocking. “The man at the reception looked at us and said we’d have to pay Rs 800 to use the restroom. No empathy. No hesitation.”

Despite trying to reason with him, explaining that their hotel was 7 km away and the situation was urgent, the man refused to understand the emergency or negotiate. Left with no choice, they paid the amount. “Rs 805 for a washroom. Humanity? I paid Rs 805… just to use a restroom. Yes, you read that right…” Upadhyay wrote, along with a photo of the hotel’s receipt.

Adding to the frustration, when her father requested a bill, the staff began shouting. But he stood his ground and eventually paid Rs 805 for what ended up being a desperate visit to the washroom.

“What have we become?” Upadhyay wrote in her post. “How can someone see a woman in pain and still put a price on basic humanity? This happened not in a random place, but at the doorstep of a spiritual centre. A place where we go to find peace, kindness, and faith,” the post said.

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Several LinkedIn users expressed sympathy and shared similar experiences. While some speculated the charge might have included a hygiene fee due to her mother’s condition, most were appalled by the lack of compassion shown by the hotel staff.

“This is against the Law. Please lodge a complaint in the Consumer Forum and ask for a Compensation. As per the law of the land, any Hotel or Lodge cannot deny drinking water or the use of its washroom to anyone under the Sarai Act of 1867,” a user wrote. “Ahh, lovely capitalism is at its peak. The worrying instance is they don’t start charging for air we breathe,” another user commented.