Panic at West Delhi MCD school after 28 students fall ill, rushed to hospital

The DCP added, “As per the initial assessment, a foul smell suddenly filled a few classrooms, which made the children ill… They had just eaten a few minutes earlier. The smell subsided but as a precaution, all classrooms were vacated. Further examination of the premises is being done to ascertain the source of the smell…”

Senior MCD officials stated, “An unfortunate instance of hospitalisation of 24 students from an MCD school in Naraina has been reported. The gas leak had taken place at the nearby railway tracks and 15 students were taken to RML Hospital and nine to Acharya Bhikshu Hospital… A team of doctors from MCD’s health department and officials of the education department are at the hospital to monitor the situation.”

MCD Mayor Shelly Oberoi, who visited students at RML Hospital, said instructions have been given for a comprehensive investigation into the “gas leak”. She was accompanied by AAP MCD-incharge Durgesh Pathak.

However, the Northern Railways, in a statement, said railway wagons never transport any toxic gases which may pose a health hazard. “Moreover, (there is) no such report of leakage of gases from any station. There was no movement of any trains having gaseous contents in the area… during the time of the incident,” the statement added.

Family members of the students told The Indian Express that their mid-day meal could have made them fall ill. A senior MCD official, however, said no such quality issue has been found in the meal but a probe is ongoing.

Hitting out at the AAP-led civic body, Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva, who visited RML hospital along with MCD Leader of Opposition Raja Iqbal Singh, alleged the utensil in which the mid-day meal was served to students of a particular classroom was contaminated, leading to food poisoning. He claimed, “The MCD Mayor should explain how it is possible a gas leak in the vicinity affected students of only one classroom.”

The MCD also said, “A total of 19 students were admitted to RML. First, 15 students were admitted at 11.28 am. Four students came later.” It said 14 have been discharged. “A teacher will stay overnight to take care of 5 students under observation,” it said.