TALOQAN (Pajhwok): At least 120 schoolgirls were poisoned in the Rustaq district of northern Takhar province on Wednesday, an official said.

Public Health Director Hafizullah Safi told Pajhwok Afghan News scores of students of the Khanaqa School were poisoned at around 9am.

“So far 120 girls have been evacuated to hospital, but their health condition is stable,” he said, adding the cause of the incident was yet to be known.

Police chief, Brig. Gen. Noor Mohammad Hakimi, confirmed the attack and said efforts were underway to arrest the perpetrators.

Last year, hundreds of schoolgirls were poisoned in Herat and Bamyan provinces. It is the first time that students have been poisoned in Takhar this year.

The government has failed to identify the cause of such incidents, much less prevent them, fuelling concerns among parents and education officials.

mds/mud