25 students fall sick after inhaling toxic fumes at lab

30 June 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

At least 25 students of the Institute of Medical Technology fell sick after inhaling toxic fumes at one of its laboratories at Mirpur in the city yesterday. Toxic fumes filled the laboratory on the ground floor of the three-storey institute building soon after an explosion took place with a bang at around 12:30pm when the students were attending their practical class, witnesses said. The explosion took place about five minutes after a generator was turned on in the lab following power outage, they added. "We heard a big bang and soon fumes filled the tiny room," said Anwar Hossain, a student who fell sick. The police said toxic fumes might have resulted from chemical reactions in the lab. Eleven sick students were rushed to Adhunik Hospital in Pallabi, eight to NICVD and the others to local clinics. Quoting doctors at the Adhunik Hospital, Officer-in-charge (OC) Iqbal Hossain of Pallabi Police Station said the students fell sick after inhaling toxic smoke, which might have been produced from chemical reactions. However, the principal of the institution Abdul Malek Sarker was not available for comments despite repeated attempts to contact him.