475 children taken ill due to gas leak near school

As many as 475 students were rushed to a hospital from their school early Saturday morning in Delhi’s Tughlakabad after a gas leak from a nearby container depot rendered a few of them unconscious, while the other had to battle nausea and irritation in their eyes.  An FIR has been registered against an unidentified person in the matter by the Delhi Police.

According to officials, the students were in their classrooms at Rani Jhansi School, close to the Tughlakabad container depot from where the chemical leak is suspected to have   been originated, when they started showing these symptoms. The chemical in the container was imported from China and was to be taken to Sonepat in Haryana.

Around 100 students were admitted to Majeedia Hospital and 62 to Batra Hospital, in addition to smaller groups that were sent to Apollo Hospital. Though the condition of children is stable, doctors have admitted a few of them to the ICU to monitor their condition. 

“We had 250 patients brought to the hospital and all have been discharged as their condition was stable,” a senior doctor at Majeedia Hospital said. 

Meanwhile, Apollo Hospital authorities said the condition of 42 children and an adult admitted there was stable. “Therapeutic interventions as per clinical requirements were administered to them. Currently, all patients are stable,” the hospital said.

Initial information from officials suggested that the number of girls affected were around 100. Emergency calls were received by the Fire department around 7:35am. Soon after the incident was report, senior leaders began to visit the hospital to meet the students.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal visited Majeedia hospital in the afternoon to meet the students. Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal also visited the hospitals where the children were being treated. Kejriwal has ordered an enquiry in the matter.

“What was a container with chemical doing in a residential area? I have met the kids and all are stable. There are very few students who are still facing symptoms. I have spoken to the doctors and they all will be discharged soon. An enquiry will be conducted in the matter,” Kejriwal said.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has also asked the officials for a magisterial inquiry. “I spoke to the girls and the doctors, the condition of the students is normal,” he said, after visiting the hospitals the school-kids were taken to.

Meanwhile, the authorities explained what precautions they had taken to safeguard the children. “Two fire tenders were immediately rushed to the spot as soon as we received the complaint. The school was evacuated and the students and staff was rushed to the hospital,” said Atul Garg, chief fire officer, Delhi Fire Services (DFS).

Romil Baaniya, deputy commissioner of police (southeast district), said the leak originated in a truck at the customs area. “The local police team along with teams of NDRF, fire, and CATS ambulance reached the spots and rescued the schoolgirls who were affected,” said Baaniya.