Two brothers die after eating poisonous herbs in Oghi

MANSEHRA: Two brothers died and five other family members fell critically ill after consuming poisonous herbs during a visit to the alpine tourist resort of Punja Galli in Oghi tehsil, officials said on Saturday.

A local health department official told reporters that the three women and two men who were hospitalised remain in critical condition, while the bodies of the deceased brothers have been handed over to their family.

The family, who travelled from Phagora village, had prepared a meal using local herbs collected during their trip. Shortly after consuming it, they fell unconscious.

The deceased were identified as Mohammad Ibrar and his brother Mohammad Waqar, both in their early 30s. Hospital staff provided treatment, including abdominal wash, to the affected members, but their condition remains serious.

Local resident Mohammad Sajid urged the government to launch an awareness campaign to educate people on the dangers of consuming unknown herbs to prevent similar incidents.

In a separate development, the Shinkiari police arrested five individuals in connection with the murder of two women, after a local court cancelled their pre-arrest bail.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Abdul Hassan Mehmood ordered the arrest of Shahzad Ghazi, Ghaffar Ali, Mahaz Ali, Azan Ali, and Saddam Hussain, sending them to jail on a 16-day judicial remand. The accused had allegedly killed the wives of Sohrab Khan and his brother Aqil Khan in Dodial area. An FIR had been registered against all five under relevant sections of the law.