CHENNAI: In the second such incident within the last two weeks, at least four more students from Victory Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Tiruvottiyur fainted on Monday morning after experiencing nausea, while three others reported fever, chills and vomiting. They were taken to nearby private hospitals and the students’ condition is stable now, said authorities.
After 35 students in the school fainted on October 25, the school education department officials said that the school would remain closed until the source of the leak was ascertained. While it is learnt that the TNPCB has since submitted a report on the incident, school education department officials said the school authorities decided to reopen on Monday without consulting the department.
Around an hour after the children arrived at the school on Monday, some began experiencing fever and chills, said students whom TNIE spoke to. Some others began to feel nauseous, prompting the teachers to move them to the ground floor. During that time, at least four students fainted, and others reported light-headedness. They were immediately taken to the hospitals nearby. Parents rushed to the school upon hearing of the incident, following which the students were sent home. The school has again been closed until further notice.
A Class 6 student told TNIE, “Before coming to school, I didn’t have fever or chills. But after a while, I started feeling extremely cold. My teacher advised me to rest on the back bench. Soon, about four students in my class experienced chills, so the teacher took us to the ground floor. However, before we even got there, one of my classmates looked like she was having a seizure and fainted, which frightened me, and I started feeling dizzy. I am also one of the students who fainted and got hospitalised on October 25,” she added.
Sources said that no unpleasant smell was reported this time and that the students did not have symptoms like breathing difficulties or throat irritation, which were reported in the previous incident.
‘No source identified as yet’
Government sources TNIE spoke to said that while initially, the leak was suspected to have been from the Chemistry lab, investigations revealed that the lab had not been used since August this year when the practical sessions were wrapped up. Nothing amiss was reported from the lab and no chloroform was used there. No industry is located nearby and no external sources for a possible gas leak were identified, said sources.
Officials from the school education department noted that a TNPCB mobile unit was stationed at the school after the initial gas leak. However, the school reopened without seeking approval from the government. MLA K P Shankar said, “We plan to hold a meeting with school authorities and officials, including the RDC (Revenue Divisional Commissioner) North, to discuss the issue and determine how to proceed with the students’ education until we identify the cause.”