24 students of MCD school fall sick due to gas leak in Delhi’s Naraina
Durgesh Pathak, the MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi) in-charge for the Aam Aadmi Party, stated that 15 students were admitted to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and their condition is stable. The remaining affected students were transported to Acharya Shree Bhikshu Hospital, as confirmed by a senior Municipal Corporation of Delhi official speaking to PTI.
The incident, believed to be caused by a gas leak near the school premises, led to the students falling ill. However, the situation is now under control, and all students are receiving medical attention from healthcare professionals at the respective hospitals.
Officials from the civic health department promptly responded to the situation, visiting both hospitals and the school. Furthermore, the education department of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi is actively involved in addressing the incident and its aftermath.
This collective effort showcases a swift and coordinated response from various authorities to ensure the well-being and care of the affected students.
“We will also conduct our own investigation to determine the cause of this incident,” the senior official remarked. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) later released a statement clarifying, “The gas leak originated from the nearby railway tracks.” To closely oversee the situation, a team of doctors from the MCD’s health department and officials from the education department are actively present at the hospital, as mentioned in the statement.
According to police reports, they were notified of a distress call concerning students experiencing sickness and vomiting at Nigam Pratibha Vidyalaya in Inderpuri. This swift and comprehensive response demonstrates the collaborative efforts of various departments to ensure the safety and well-being of the affected students.
“Based on the information currently at hand, 23 children have been transported to the hospital, and we are continuously receiving updates from the medical facilities. As of the latest report, all of them are reported to be in good health,” stated Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Vichitra Veer. The initial evaluation indicates that a noxious odor pervaded several classrooms, resulting in the children feeling unwell. Evidently, the children had recently consumed meals. Although the odor has abated, precautionary measures have been taken, leading to the evacuation of all classrooms,” the Deputy Commissioner of Police added.
“An ongoing investigation is being conducted to identify the source of the odor within the premises. Given the proximity of a railway track, it is one potential avenue, although the exact origin of the smell remains undetermined,” explained Veer.
Durgesh Pathak, who holds the position of Aam Aadmi Party’s MCD in-charge, personally visited the students undergoing treatment at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, taking the opportunity to provide them with reassurance regarding their well-being. He elaborated on the medical evaluations carried out by doctors, highlighting that the initial assessments have effectively ruled out the possibility of food poisoning as the cause.
Pathak emphasized the active and vigilant approach being taken to decipher the origins of the noxious gas. Given that no obvious factors within the school premises seem to account for the incident, the investigative focus has shifted towards the possibility that the gas could have been emitted from a passing train, as suggested by emerging reports.
In response to the situation, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has taken proactive measures by commencing an investigation into the matter. This effort encompasses collaboration with medical professionals to comprehensively understand the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Pathak conveyed optimism about the students’ condition, stating that they are expected to be discharged from the hospital by 6 pm. This reinforces the commitment of the MCD and its associates to promptly address and resolve the situation, ensuring the safety and well-being of the students.
This comprehensive response showcases the dedicated efforts of authorities to ensure the health and safety of the students, while actively working to uncover the root cause of the incident.
Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva also visited the students at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. He emphasized that neither the students nor the teachers could pinpoint the cause of the incident, underscoring the need for a thorough investigation by the civic authorities. Sachdeva recounted, “According to the students, they were present in their classrooms when they suddenly encountered a powerful and noxious odor that led to vomiting and loss of consciousness.”
The incident brings to mind a previous occurrence in 2017, when a chemical leak originating from the Tughlakabad container depot adversely affected over 450 female students, a number of educators, and local residents. This history serves as a reminder of the importance of prompt and rigorous investigations to ensure the safety of students and the broader community.
