A startling incident unfolded at a restaurant in Gurgaon, where five individuals ended up hospitalized due to ingesting dry ice instead of the intended mouth fresheners. According to police reports, the waiter mistakenly served dry ice to the patrons at the hotel.
The victims identified in the incident are Neha Sabarwal, Manika Goenka, Pritika Rustagi, Deepak Aroda, and Himani. These individuals had dined at Laforessta Cafe in Sector 90 of Gurgaon, where the waiter, in error, presented them with dry ice disguised as a mouth freshener.
Upon consuming the substance, which they mistook for mouth freshener, they experienced a burning sensation in their mouths, subsequently leading to bleeding. Ankit, a member of the group and the complainant in the case abstained from consuming it as he was holding his one-year-old daughter.
Following the incident, Ankit promptly contacted the police and arranged for an ambulance for the group. Upon arrival at the hospital, medical professionals determined that they had ingested dry ice.
Who gave them Dry Ice?
A case has been filed by the police against the waiter at Kherki Daula police station under IPC sections related to causing harm by poison and criminal conspiracy. According to the FIR, the doctor diagnosed the patients with chemical burn poisoning.
A police official mentioned that they have forwarded samples to the FSL to determine the nature of the substance. Initially, it appears to be dry ice, mistakenly taken for mouth freshener by the staff. Currently, three individuals remain hospitalized, albeit in improved conditions. The restaurant manager attributed the incident to staff negligence and expects police action to follow.
What is Dry Ice?
Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide (CO2) at a temperature of -78.5 degrees Celsius. The substance is called “dry ice” because it does not melt into a liquid form as regular ice does. Instead of melting like normal ice, it sublimates directly from a solid into a gas.
This process means that it turns directly from a solid into carbon dioxide gas without going through a liquid phase. Dry ice’s unique properties make it a versatile tool with applications in a variety of industries. However, it’s important to handle dry ice with care due to its extremely low temperature and the potential hazards associated with carbon dioxide gas buildup in confined spaces.