Students had reportedly informed teachers about smelling a toxic gas on the school premises, but the school management neglected these complaints.
Following the hospitalization of 35 students from a private school due to a suspected gas leak, residents are urging state agencies to monitor similar issues to prevent future casualties.
“We often notice mild gas odors from industries in north Chennai, and we’re accustomed to it. However, the school incident has raised concerns about the seriousness of the situation and warrants a thorough investigation,” residents stated.
Ward 7 (Tiruvottiyur zone) councillor K. Karthik added a new perspective, suggesting that sewer gas from unhygienic toilets on the school premises could have contributed to the incident. He emphasized that if the gas had originated from a factory, the entire locality could have been affected.