Suspected gas leak in school lands 35 girls in hosp

AT least 35 girl students of a private school in Thiruvottiyur had to be taken to hospitals after some of them fainted and others reported difficulty in breathing and eye irritation due to a suspected gas leak.

- PRAVEENA S A

The source of the leak and the nature of the gas involved have not been ascertained yet.

While three students of Victory Matriculation Higher Secondary School are still receiving treatment at a private hospital as of Friday night, one girl was referred to Government Stanley Hospital.

The remaining received treatment from the nearby Tsunami Relief Government Hospital. While many of them were discharged by evening, a few students were brought back to the hospital later on Friday as their eye irritation continued.

Officials from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), police, fire and rescue services, and the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) have been conducting inspections on the school premises to determine the cause of the gas leak.

According to students that TNIE spoke to, the unpleasant smell has been felt for the past two days.