'Suspected case of chemical poisoning': Medical student of RIMS-Ranchi on ventilator after having canteen tea; staffer detained for questioning

RANCHI: A first-year postgraduate student of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Jharkhand’s premier health institute, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi, has been put on a ventilator after allegedly consuming tea from the hospital canteen, officials said on Saturday.The 25-year-old woman reportedly fell ill soon after drinking the tea ordered from a canteen near the orthopaedic ward while she was on night duty on Thursday. She was immediately shifted to the intensive care unit, where she remains on ventilatory support.Apparently, it is a case of poisoning, the spokesperson of the state-run institute said.Several other doctors on duty had also ordered tea from the same canteen, they added."She poured the tea into a flask in order to drink it at a time when they would be free. After finishing her work, she took a couple of sips of tea and said it was not good and smelled bad, so the rest of the doctors did not take it," the official said.After some time, she fell ill, fainted, and was taken to the emergency department."She is now on a ventilator, and the next 48 hours are crucial. The flask and several other articles have been sent for a toxicology test as this seems to be a case of poisoning," an official said on Friday.RIMS spokesperson Dr Rajiv Ranjan confirmed the incident."It is not simply a case of food poisoning; we suspect it is a case of chemical poisoning. The matter will be clear only after investigation," said Ranjan.He said the condition of the PG student is stable but critical, and the hospital canteen has been sealed. A police complaint has been lodged, and officials confirmed that the staff member who served the tea has been detained for questioning.(With inputs from agencies)