June 23: A 16-year-old boy from Nevari village in Tsirang is suspected to have died of drug overdose on Friday, June 20.

The Gup of Rangthangling geog found the deceased and his friend, a student of Damphu Lower Secondary School, unconscious at the friend’s house. The two were rushed to the hospital but the deceased died on the way to the hospital. The friend is in a stable condition at the Damphu hospital.

The cause of the death has not been confirmed but police suspect drug overdose as the probable cause.

Police found a bunch of marijuana leaves from underneath the deceased’s mattress. However the friend of the deceased denied taking marijuana.

Dr. Pakila Drukpa, the forensic expert with the national referral hospital said excessive intake of marijuana can kill a person. Taking marijuana mixed with alcohol or antidepressant can also cause death. The case is under investigation.