India batter and Karnataka captain Mayank Agarwal was rushed to a hospital in Agartala after he consumed an unidentified liquid — assumed to be water — on board an Agartala-New Delhi flight on Tuesday.
The 32-year-old is learnt to be out of danger, but has been kept under observation at the hospital.
Members of the state Ranji Trophy team, which defeated the hosts on Monday, were heading to Surat for their next engagement.
Travelling via New Delhi, the team was booked on IndiGo flight 6E 5177, scheduled to depart Agartala at 2.40 pm.
According to an eyewitness, Agarwal felt thirsty after boarding the aircraft and picked up a bottle — assumed to contain water — from the front seat pocket.
On taking a sip from the bottle, Agarwal experienced a burning sensation in his mouth. Even as the flight was taxiing, Agarwal spat out the liquid in the washroom and rinsed his mouth, but there was no relief.
With his tongue thickening and face reddening, the aircraft returned to the bay and Agarwal was deplaned and rushed to hospital.
Agarwal’s treatment included detoxification.
It is learnt that he has suffered burns on his inner cheeks and tongue. On behalf of Agarwal, Ramesh Rao, the Karnataka team manager, who deplaned with the player, has registered an FIR.
Sources in Agartala police said: “It seems it was some cleaning agent in a water bottle that was left behind. We have sent the bottle for forensic examination.”
ILS Hospital, where Agarwal is being treated, said in a statement, “This evening, cricketer Mayank Agarwal was transported from the MBB airport, Agartala, to ILS Hospital. He was experiencing some oral irritation and swelling on his lips. After being assessed by the consultants of the hospital, he was admitted. He is clinically stable and being constantly monitored.”
If Agarwal is declared fit to travel, he is likely to return to the city on Wednesday for further treatment.
Agarwal will miss the next match against Railways starting in Surat on Friday.
Manish Pandey, who missed the previous outing owing to injury, will join the team on Wednesday.