Pen hookah, the new rage among school students

City's school students are getting hooked to a new rage, the pen hookah, which can easily be acquired from local paan shops, perfume stores and mobile stores across the city. In a recent case, a suburban school in Andheri west seized a pen hookah from a student who was caught smoking it.

According to sources, the incident took place when a class IX student was seen smoking it in the school premises, the class teacher then confronted the student and confiscated the hookah. The teachers have also come across students smoking cigarettes and the school has taken stern action against them.

The school principal confirmed the incident but refused to comment further. The pen hookah contains nicotine and is detachable to refill and smoke different flavours. It costs Rs 500 and comes along with an extra flavour and charger. The instrument needs to be charged and when one smokes it, the flavour along with the nicotine enters the body. Also known as Shisha pens, it lasts for at least an hour which is more dangerous as compared to cigarettes. DNA visited four stores in the school's vicinity and found that these pen hookahs were easily available at mobile stores, paan shops and specialised hookah stores.

Dr. Pankaj Parekh, city-based Child specialist said, "Many such students have been affected recently due to nicotine and it's long-term use can affect the brain development and its growth." Pravinkumar Patil, Deputy Commissioner of police said, "Our police team will identify the shops selling these pen hookahs in the city and will conduct a crackdown. We have been taking action against hookah parlours. Considering that children are involved in such kind of incidents we book the owners of such establishments."