Special inquiry committee reviews facts of Layya tragedy

Lahore: Justice (R) Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhary presided over a meeting of special inquiry committee constituted by Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif for determining the causes of death of 31 persons due to eating toxic sweets in Tehsil Crore Laal Eson, Layyah at Civil Secretariat, here today.

Convener committee Additional Chief Secretary Punjab Shamail Ahmed Khawaja and members committee Secretary Primary Health Ali Jan, Secretary I&C Farasat Iqbal, Additional IG Special Branch Faisal Shahkar, DG Punjab Forensic Science Authority Dr. Muhammad Ashraf Tahir, former DG Punjab Food Authority Sajid Chuhan, Pesticide Specialist Agriculture University Faisalabad Prof. Dr. Suhail Ahmed and prominent Prof. of Medicine Dr. Eice Muhammad, District Coordination Officer Layyah, District Police Officer, EDOs Health and Agriculture Layyah besides Cane Commissioner Punjab Waqas Aalam who has been given additional charge of DG Punjab Food Authority were present on the occasion.

Justice (R) Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhary reviewed in detail the reports prepared by concerned departments regarding Layyah tragedy, which stated that Chlorphenapyr was mixed in the sweets prepared in the joy of birth of a baby. Hundred local persons were affected due to eating this sweets. On knowing that the sweets was toxic, about 50 persons used Desi ghee as treatment totka due to which toxin was removed from the body as a result of vigorous emesis and lose motions. The ghee has the property of sucking dangerous toxin like Chlorphenapyr, otherwise it has no antidote.

The stomachs of 58 patients were washed at Tehsil Headquarter Hospital Crore Laal Eison and District Headquarters Hospital Layyah but the dose of toxin was so high that they were not saved despite their treatment at Nishter Hospital Multan and Jinnah Hospital Lahore and 31 persons were died.

Justice (R) Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhary stressed upon the need of creating awareness among the people in order to avoid such incidents in future and added that awareness should be created for protection against toxic things and hygene. He said that the government should expand the scope of medical facilities to far-flung areas as well.