Toxic beverage: Poisonous tea knocks 18 people unconscious

BANNU:

Recess period at a private school of Bannu took a sour turn on Wednesday when 18 people, including 14 teachers, fell unconscious after drinking poisonous tea.

The incident occurred in Azeem Public School at about 11:30am and the affected people were rushed to District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital, Bannu in critical condition.

According to the DHQ Hospital casualty in charge, the victims had blood oozing from their mouths and nostrils.

Dr Khan added initial examinations revealed the patients had consumed something poisonous.

After regaining consciousness, Khan said one of the staffers told them the school peon had served tea to teachers, the principal, two labourers and a child during recess. “The peon told us that the packaged milk he used for making the beverage was spoilt,” Dr Khan added. The affected people are now in stable condition.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 24^th, 2014.