HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): Around 134 girl students and teachers were poisoned in Herat City on Thursday, a day after 200 students fell unconscious in the Injil district of the western province.

Mohammad Rafiq Sherzai, provincial hospital spokesman, told Pajhwok Afghan News the incident took place around 9:00am at Babaji School in the limits of 12th police district.

He said 134 female students and teachers were shifted to the hospital. The affected individuals are aged between eight and 35 years, who fell unconscious while entering classes.

Then of the schoolteachers and the headmistress were among those poisoned. “It’s yet to be ascertained what caused them poisoning, but medical efforts are ongoing to identify the causeof such incidents.”

Some of the poisoned students said while entering their classes they smelt something strong and then felt dizzy and nauseating.

Nazia, one of the poisoned students, said: “When I entered the classroom, there was a very strong smell. When I went home, I fell unconscious.”

Atri Gul, another student, said: “when I entered the class my teacher asked us to go out. Then I didn’t understand what had happened.”

Some of the students’ parents vehemently criticised officials’ indifference towards the incidents, saying if their children’s safety was not ensured, they would not let them go to school.

Aziz Gul, mother of an affected girl, said: “I urge the government to ensure security of our daughters and punish those who poisoned them.”

Sakina Hussaini, provincial council member, said the insurgents could not fight the security forces and had resorted to poisoning innocent children.

Syed Azim Kubrzani, another PC member, blasted local officials for not identifying the cause of the incidents. “Unfortunately, the officials still could not ascertain the gas that is used. We want NATO to help in this regard.”

Deputy GovernorAsiluddin Jami, meanwhile, directed the officials concerned to ascertain the cause of the incident by the end of the day. This is the third such incident in Herat in one week.

hg/mud