Diners in India vomit, cough up blood after allegedly being served dry ice

Diners at a restaurant in India were left vomiting and coughing up blood after being served a single item.

Diners at a restaurant in India were left vomiting and coughing up blood after allegedly being served dry ice as a mouth freshener.

Dry ice is a solid form of carbon dioxide and is typically used to flash freeze food items.

Footage of the incident, which occurred at Laforestta Cafe in the northern Indian city of Gurugram on March 2, went viral on social media, showing the customers in various states of distress.

One woman can be seen crying, while others gulp down water, presumably to ease the burning.

According to local media, five of the six diners were ultimately hospitalised after being given the concoction.

Dry ice can burn your mouth, oesophagus and stomach. Two of the victims are still in hospital.

Diners at a restaurant in India were left vomiting and coughing up blood after allegedly being served dry ice as a mouth freshener. Picture: Supplied

‘I showed the packet of mouth freshener to a doctor, who said it was dry ice. According to the doctor, it is an acid which can lead to death.’ Picture: Supplied

Ankit Kumar, who was the only member of the group not to consume the dry ice, accused the restaurant staff of fleeing instead of helping his wife and their four friends.

“I showed the packet of mouth freshener to a doctor, who said it was dry ice,” Mr Kumar told local news outlets.

“According to the doctor, it is an acid which can lead to death.”

The restaurant’s manager, Gagandeep Singh was arrested on March 5 and charged with poisoning “with the intent to cause hurt or harm”, the Times of India reported.

Police also arrested the waitress involved, though Inspector Manoj Kumar said her serving the dry ice to the diners had been a mistake.

An initial investigation by police found the staff received supplies on Saturday night, when a packet of dry ice fell on the floor.

“One of the employees picked up the packet of dry ice and kept it on the main counter where mouth fresheners were usually kept. We suspect that since both items look similar, the waitress picked up the dry ice and offered it to the group,” Surender Singh said.