Haryana: 11 girls of Pataudi govt school taken to hospital after they faint during ‘fumigation’ drive

According to officials, the incident took place at 10 am when municipal committee employees were carrying out fogging operations in a field that is being used as a resting place by kanwarias, who are passing through the district on their annual pilgrimage.

An official said that when air influenced by fogging is inhaled on an empty stomach, bouts of dizziness and headaches are possible. File Photo/Agencies (representational)

Eleven students of the Hazarilal Kapoori Devi Government Girls Senior Secondary School in Pataudi were rushed to hospital Thursday morning after they fainted allegedly during a fumigation drive in a field near the school. They were discharged after being kept under observation for a few hours, said police.

According to officials, the incident took place at 10 am when municipal committee employees were carrying out fogging operations in a field that is being used as a resting place by kanwarias, who are passing through the district on their annual pilgrimage. Class IX student Meenakshi, who was among the students taken to hospital, said, “We were in our classrooms when the smell of the medicine seeped in. It was very strong and some girls fainted because of it.” All other employees and students were evacuated from the school, said officials.

Dr D P Malik, senior medical officer of Pataudi, said, “Eleven girls were brought to the hospital with complaints of nausea, dizziness, and headache. We had to give glucose to some of them by drip. They were all discharged after being kept under observation.”

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While officials are looking into the incident, sources said negligence while fogging could be the reason why students fainted. “Workers should be constantly on the move when they are carrying out fogging operations. The workers probably fumigated in one place for too long, which resulted in high concentration of medicine in the area. This must have seeped into the school,” said an official.

However, he added that when air influenced by fogging is inhaled on an empty stomach, bouts of dizziness and headaches are possible.

SDM Ravindra Yadav, who reached the school with health department officials when the incident came to light, said an inquiry has been ordered. “As of now, it is unclear whether the fumigation was responsible for what happened. I have ordered an inquiry into the matter. We will have more clarity once the reports arrive,” he said.

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