66 Students Poisoned at a Religious Seminary in Nangarhar
Tawazon – At least 66 students at a religious seminary in Momand Dara district, eastern Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province, have been poisoned after consuming contaminated food, according to local sources. The exact cause of the poisoning remains unclear.
Local surces told Tawazon that the incident occurred on August 4, at a religious seminary located in the 29th canal area of Momand Dara. Alongside the students, two teachers were also affected.
Health officials confirmed that all those poisoned received treatment at hospitals in Momand Dara, Ghani Khel, and Nangarhar Regional Hospital, and have since been discharged in stable condition.
According to Naqibullah Rahimi, spokesperson for Nangarhar’s Public Health Department, samples of food and water from the seminary have been collected. An investigation team has been tasked with determining whether the contamination was accidental or intentional. While deliberate poisoning has not yet been confirmed local residents are calling for greater transparency in the incident.
Since the Taliban’s return to power, there has been a significant increase in the number of religious seminaries across Afghanistan, particularly in provinces like Nangarhar. In many areas, modern educational institutions have been replaced by religious schools, raising concern about the balance and inclusivity of the country’s education system.
The madrasa where the poisoning occurred reportedly hosts around 210 students.
