CHENNAI: In a freak incident, mounds of sand mixed with sewage gushed from one of the toilets situated on the grounds of Ambedkar Government Higher Secondary School in Egmore on Wednesday.
School officials suspect that it was due to ongoing underground Metro Rail work near the school. Despite repeated attempts, Express couldn’t reach Metro Rail officials for comment.
The government school, functioning since 1972, has 107 students with 15 girls studying in classes VI to XII.
S Kanmani, headmistress of the school, said the incident came to light after a staff member who arrived early noticed mud overflowing into the playground from the girl’s toilet. “I arrived at the school by 7.15 am and immediately alerted the departments concerned. Executive officers of Metro Rail arrived immediately and assured us that there has been no chemical discharge,” she said. The headmistress added that vibration sensors were installed in the building by Metro officials earlier to monitor the impact of their work. Metro Rail personnel were employed to remove the mud from the ground and restore the place.
Officials from the School Department and Public Works Department visited the school premises. Also present was Central Chennai Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) S R Vijayakumar, who was briefed by school official on the situation.