Yashaswani Chauhan, Pune
Laforestta, a popular cafe-cum-restaurant located in Gurugram’s Sector 90, has come under scrutiny following an alarming incident involving its customers. Several customers reportedly experienced severe injuries and bouts of vomiting after consuming what they believed to be a normal mouth freshener. However, investigations revealed that the mouth freshener had been unintentionally mixed with dry ice, leading to distressing consequences.
The incident, which unfolded on a recent Saturday night, left five friends with severe cuts in their mouths and experiencing nausea after they consumed the tainted mouth freshener. The victims, identified as Neha Sabharwal, Manika Goenka, Pritika Rustagi, Deepak Aroda, and Himani, along with others, had visited Laforestta for dinner around 9:30 pm. Following their meal, a waiter offered them what they presumed to be a customary mouth freshener, following the unfortunate chain of events.
The authorities took prompt action and arrested the manager of the cafe, a 30-year-old man named Gagandeep, while the restaurant owner, Amritpal Singh, remains at large. The arrest followed a raid conducted by a police team accompanied by the Rapid Action Force. Questions are also being raised about the safety measures followed in the eatery.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the incident occurred due to negligence on the part of the restaurant staff, which resulted in the accidental mixing of the mouth freshener with dry ice. While the manager maintains that there was no malicious intent behind the mishap, the repercussions have been severe, prompting concerns about the safety protocols and practices in place at the establishment.
All five customers who faced injuries after consuming the tainted mouth freshener have been discharged from the hospital, with reports suggesting that their conditions are stable. However, questions linger regarding the source of the contaminated mouth freshener and the composition of the harmful substance responsible for the adverse reactions.
Gurugram Police have registered a case under Section 328 and Section 120 B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), based on a complaint filed by one of the customers involved in this mishap. Investigations are underway to ascertain the supplier of the mouth freshener and to determine the exact circumstances leading to the mishap.