Gas leak: 20 third graders and teachers collapse in class

The leak was caused after a generator malfunctioned after power cut.

GUJRANWALA:

An entire third grade class and its teachers fainted after a gas leak in the building on Tuesday.

According to Rescue 1122 officials, persistent power cuts caused a generator at the Government Primary School on Pasrur Road in Upper Chichrali to leak gas which caused one of the class rooms to fill with poisonous gas. “There was absolutely no ventilation and the windows were all closed,” said rescue official Rahbar.

According to the school administration over 20 students from the third grade were affected by the gas leak and the children remained in the room for over an hour. “Two class teachers also fainted and it took us a while to figure out that the students were still in the class,” said school guard Nadeem, adding that he figured out what had happened after the students didn’t exit the class when the school let out in the afternoon. “I immediately called Rescue 1122 services because none of them were waking up,” he said.

School staff said that some of the children recovered when they were brought outside but the rescue services van took everyone to the Civil Hospital. “I was in the classroom and I don’t remember when it happened. We kept thinking that fans would switch back on soon so we didn’t notice the gas leak,” said one of the affected teachers Sameena. The Civil Hospital staff said that the children had been brought to the hospital in serious condition. “They had inhaled too much of the gas and were having trouble breathing. We gave them all extra oxygen and they recovered by the evening,” said Dr Usman, adding “Two of the children are still in critical condition. We have sent the rest home.”

The two guards who broke into the building to rescue the children, Asim and Nadeem, told parents about the incident and referred them to the hospital. “We heard the news when the guard called us in and we rushed to the hospital. My son is still in critical care,” said eight-year-old Imran’s father Sajid.

Parents have demanded that the school administration replace the faulty generator immediately and ensure that all windows in the class rooms remain open. “It could have been much worse. I am just grateful that the guards broke open the doors when they did,” said seven-year-old Bilal’s mother.



Published in The Express Tribune, April 27^th, 2011.