HYDERABAD: About 50 girl students at the Kasturba Gandhi Degree & PG College for Women in West Marredpally became ill on Friday evening after inhaling a foul odour from garbage while working in the college's science lab.
Initially, the incident was thought to be the result of a gas leak. The girls were admitted to the adjacent Geetha Nursing Home, and 19 of them were discharged. About 30 students are being treated at the hospital but are said to be out of danger.
Many of the girls began to experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, sore throat, and nausea while working in the lab in the afternoon. Fearing a gas leak, college officials called ambulance services, and many students were carried to the ambulance on stretchers. Meanwhile, the police were informed of the incident and arrived at the lab to conduct an investigation.
"Some students were having lunch on the second floor when a foul odour began to spread in the rooms, causing around 50 students to experience symptoms such as breathlessness, sore throat, and vomiting sensation," police said. “The CLUES team determined that the foul odour was caused by the lifting of nearby garbage. So far, no complaints have been received, and all students are safe," according to an official police note.
Deepthi Chandana, DCP, North Zone, stated that a large pile of garbage was being cleared at the time the students were in the lab, which could have resulted in the release and spread of gases such as methane and carbon monoxide, causing the students to become ill.
