Blazing heat: Over 67 students fall unconscious in school

Emergency was imposed at the hospital, some of the students were provided first-aid at clinics nearby

DARGAI: Over 67 students fell unconscious during a parent teacher council (PTC) meeting at a government high school in Malakand district on Monday morning. It is believed the students fainted due to the scorching heat.

The incident took place at Government Zeeshan Shaheed High School where students were assembled for a PTC meeting, school administration officials told The Express Tribune.

Locals, whose children were at the school, said the session went on for a very long time. Malakand District Education Officer (DEO) Said Manzar Jan also addressed the gathering.

Later during the session, locals added, students started fainting one after another.

Initially, the school administration thought the students were pretending because they were bored by the session.

However, when the gravity of the situation was realised, students were shifted to a government hospital. An emergency was imposed at the hospital, while some of the students were provided first-aid at clinics nearby.

At hospital

“We received at least 42 students,” Deputy Medical Superintendent Dargai Hospital Dr Akbar Hussain told The Express Tribune. “But their condition was satisfactory as some recovered after having fruit juices and others felt better by having water only.”

Hussain added, “We call it syncope where people fall unconscious by standing for hours under open sky in scorching heat.”

He added they have obtained specimen from the students and sent them to Peshawar.

However, the DEO rejected the allegations that session at the school went on for a long time. He said the matter should be probed. He added the assembly lasted for no longer than 30 minutes.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 17^th, 2016.