Twenty-two high school students from School No. 51 in the Guzar district of Uzbekistan’s Kashkadarya region were poisoned by an airborne chemical substance, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The incident occurred on September 23 at around 11:45 a.m. local time.

Students in grades 10 and 11 exhibited symptoms including nausea and headaches and were immediately taken to the district medical association, where they received a preliminary diagnosis of “gastric dyspepsia syndrome.” Ambulance crews and epidemiologists arrived at the scene.

An investigation revealed that cotton fields belonging to the “Shokhmalik Shermurod ugli” farm are located adjacent to the “Yangiabad” mahalla where the school is situated. Twenty hectares of these fields lie directly around the school. According to preliminary data, at around 9:00 a.m. that day, the farm sprayed a chemical agent called “Agro Augron” on the field to accelerate cotton ripening. The substance, dispersed through the air, caused the students to be poisoned.

After receiving medical assistance, 15 students showed improvement and were discharged home. Currently, 7 students remain hospitalized in the district medical association, receiving inpatient treatment. Their condition is reported as moderately serious.

A criminal case has been opened under Part 1 of Article 201 of the Criminal Code (Pollution of the environment or violation of rules for handling hazardous substances). Relevant expert examinations have been ordered, and preliminary investigative actions are being conducted by the Investigative Department of the Kashkadarya Regional Internal Affairs Directorate. The farm management may face liability.

Source: www.gazeta.uz