In a shocking incident at an Indian restaurant, a group of diners experienced a horrifying experience after being served dry ice as a mouth freshener.
The incident, which occurred at La Forestta Cafe in Gurugram, left the diners vomiting blood and in critical condition.
Five people fell ill after consuming the sugar and spice mix, which is traditionally served as a mouth freshener after a meal in some Indian restaurants.
Horrifying footage of the incident went viral, showing the diners holding out their tongues, yelping in pain, and spitting out water. They were then immediately hospitalized.
According to the Indian news channel NDTV, two of the affected diners are reportedly in critical condition.
Based on reports, the diners had finished their meal when a waiter offered them a packet of mouth freshener. However, as soon as they consumed it, their mouths began to burn and bleed, and they started vomiting.
After investigations, police revealed that the mouth freshener contained dry ice in the form of carbon dioxide with the properties of smoke-like vapor and cooling.
Ankit Kumar, one of the diners who did not consume the mix, reported the incident to the police.
He consulted a doctor who confirmed that dry ice is an acid that can be lethal.
The customers filed a complaint stating that the restaurant staff refused to provide any assistance during the incident.
The police are conducting a forensic analysis of the contents of the mouth freshener and are also searching for the owner of the restaurant.
Finally, the manager of the restaurant has been arrested and charged with poisoning with the intent to cause harm.
However, the restaurant owner remains unknown.
Dry ice, commonly used in restaurants for theatrical purposes, can present potential health risks if not handled properly.
Dr. Dipak Patade, a consultant physician at Adhikari Lifeline Multispecialty Hospital in Palghar, warns that exposure to dry ice or its vapor can cause eye irritation, resulting in symptoms such as redness, tearing, and discomfort.
