50 wedding guests hospitalised in Galiyat

The official says the condition of four people was said to be critical

ABBOTABAD: At least 50 people were hospitalised after consuming poisonous food at a wedding ceremony in a remote village of Galiyat on Monday.

A police official told The Express Tribune that a wedding ceremony was under way in the village and some close relatives were staying at the house of the bride.

After eating dinner, the guests complained of severe stomach pain and vomiting. They were shifted to Benazir Shaheed Teaching Hospital, he maintained.

The official further said the condition of four people was said to be critical and they were referred to Ayub Teaching Hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile, the bride’s cousin Zaheer Ahmed filed a case at the police station over the incident. He told the police that someone might have mixed a poisonous substance in the food. However, he did not nominate anyone in the FIR.

Meanwhile, doctors told The Express Tribune the food was stale and caused poisoning.  One of the family members said it all happened when the host mixed potatoes and chicken curry with freshly cooked dinner to overcome the shortage of food.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 9^th, 2016.