KARACHI: Students of a school in Hijrat Colony, Lyari, fell unconscious after being exposed to exhaust fumes produced by a generator on Tuesday.

According to details, 22 students of a private school in Sector-2 fainted as a result of being exposed to the fumes.

The generator was running during loadshedding in the area. Fumes from its exhaust filled into the classrooms resulting in the unfortunate incident.

On discovering the children’s condition, the school authorities reached out to first responders who provided first aid and took the children to hospital.

Following the incident, the Directorate of Inspection and Registration of Private Institutions of the School Education and Literacy Department of the government of Sindh imposed a penalty on the school.

After visiting the school to inquire about the incident, the officials of the directorate found that the students had fainted because the school classrooms lacked ventilation.

It prevented the fumes from escaping, which constitutes gross negligence on the school’s part.

Thereby the school was slapped with a penalty of Rs1,330,000 (2,660 days multiplied by 500, which equals to 1,330,000) to be deposited as challan within seven days of receiving the letter from the Directorate of Inspection and Registration of Private Institutions.

Additionally, the school was also told to provide an explanation of their failure to renew its registration as well as negligence that resulted in the fainting of so many children.

It was also revealed during the inspection that the school registration was last renewed in February of 2014 and had expired in January 2017.

The school did not apply for a renewal of registration after its expiry.

As a result, the school has been operating illegally since 2017, which is punishable by law.

According to the Sindh Private Educational Institution (Regulation and Control) Ordinance “... whoever runs an institution in contravention of the provisions of the Ordinance or Rules shall be punished with imprisonment, which may extend to one year or with fine, which may extend to Rs500.”

Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2024