Cotton-field defoliant sprayed near a school poisons 22 pupils in Uzbekistan's Guzar
In Guzar district of Kashkadarya, 22 pupils were hospitalized after a defoliant was sprayed on a cotton field beside their school; a criminal case was opened over violations of chemical-handling rules.
In Guzar district of Uzbekistan's Kashkadarya region, 22 schoolchildren were poisoned by a chemical sprayed on a cotton field next to their school. A criminal case has been opened.
What happened
According to official information, on September 23 pupils in grades 10 and 11 at School No. 51 were taken to the Guzar district hospital with nausea and headaches, arriving around midday.
That morning, at about 9 a.m., the Shokhmalik Shermurod Ugli farm sprayed a defoliant called Agro Augron to make the cotton plants shed their leaves early. Of the farm's 88 hectares, 20 lay close to the school. Investigators believe the children inhaled the chemical fumes.
Investigation and outcome
The Interior Ministry opened a criminal case under Article 201, Part 1 of the Criminal Code (violation of rules for handling harmful chemical substances). The Kashkadarya regional police investigation department is conducting the inquiry.
As of September 29, seven children remained in the Guzar district hospital, while 15 had recovered and been discharged.
