School children in Bangladesh affected by gas leak

(Sept. 11,, 2012) In Bangladesh, an investigation is under way after around 150 students from a school near Dhaka fell ill on Sunday after inhaling escaped emissions from a nearby pharmaceutical factory. Many of the students from the Hazi Kasimuddin Public School started vomiting and complained of feeling faint as toxic gas from the Beximco Pharma factory engulfed part of the school, which has around 1,000 students. “It happened around 8 a.m. when parents were dropping off kids outside. Suddenly, several classrooms were engulfed by thick, white smoke from the Beximco factory. Students began feeling sick and fainted,” said school principal Helal Uddin. At least 60 students, most of them under 12, were hospitalized. Toxic emissions from the factory are nothing new, the principal complained. “Ten students fell ill in 2006 and further emissions took place in 2007 and 2008. However, authorities ignored our repeated complaints and the police didn’t cooperate,” he said. Local police chief Ismail Hossain said their complaints are being taken seriously this time, but did not say why previous complaints were ignored. Beximco apologized for the gas leak and tried to play down health fears. An Environment Department official said Beximco had violated rules by installing an exhaust vent that was too low and which put the school at risk.