Culture & Entertainment · India Bureau
21 students hospitalized after consuming chlorine-contaminated water near Pollachi
A group of school students in Tamil Nadu fell ill after drinking water from a tank that contained dangerously high chlorine levels. The incident occurred after chlorine was added to the water storage facility without accounting for the low water level.
LSN India ·
Twenty-one students were treated for illness after consuming chlorinated water at a school near Pollachi in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday. The students experienced symptoms of chemical irritation following the consumption of water from the institution's storage tank.
Authorities investigating the incident determined that the elevated chlorine concentration resulted from a procedural oversight. While chlorine had been added to the water tank as part of routine disinfection, the water level in the tank was unusually low at the time of treatment, significantly increasing the chemical's concentration.
The high concentration of chlorine in the water caused gastrointestinal and respiratory irritation among the affected students. Medical personnel attended to the students promptly, and all cases were managed without serious complications.
The school has since flushed the water system and restored normal chlorine levels. Authorities have advised the institution to monitor water levels before undertaking chemical disinfection procedures and to establish protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future. The Tamil Nadu health department is reviewing water safety procedures across educational institutions in the district.