11 students fall ill as gas leaks from extinguisher

Our Correspondent

Garhdiwala (Hoshiarpur), Sept 16

At least 11 students of Lala Jagat Narain DAV Public School, Garhdiwala, fell ill as they inhaled the gas that leaked from a fire extinguisher here today.

They were taken to a nearby hospital from where they were sent to the Hoshiarpur Civil Hospital.

The fire extinguisher fixed in the school verandah fell on the ground, following which the gas started leaking. However, this came to fore when students started feeling uneasy and fainted.

All children who inhaled the gas were immediately provided first-aid at the local health centre and 11 of them were referred to the Civil Hospital. The school was closed and the students' parents were informed. Later, the fire extinguisher was kept in the open ground.

Dasua SDM Barjinder Singh and Civil Surgeon Dr Kailash Kapoor visited the Civil Hospital.

The children said they had problem in breathing, eye strain and sore throat.

Kapoor said the children's health deteriorated due to the gas that leaked from the fire extinguisher.

Chief Minister's political adviser Tikshan Sood, local MLA Sunder Sham Arora and district BJP president Raman Ghai visited the children in the hospital to inquire about their health.