DEO says it’s normal; Bathinda DC to order probe by senior official

More than 15 students of Class VIII of Government Senior Secondary School, Bhuchho Kalan were injured after a beaker exploded during a science experiment in the school lab.

The injuries that have left scars on the faces of the students may be permanent if the concentration of acid was more and the wounds deep, said a skin specialist at the Bathinda civil hospital.

Even though the school authorities tried to downplay the incident, Bathinda Deputy Commissioner Rahul Tewari said the matter would be probed at a higher level. “This is a serious matter. A senior PCS officer or an IAS will conduct an inquiry into the matter,” he said.

“The beaker caught fire and exploded during the experiment,” said Jaskaran Singh, one of the injured students. There were around 30 students in the class at the time of the incident, said sources.“About 15 students were brought for first aid. They had sustained injuries on their faces but none of them was seriously hurt.” said Dr Ved Parkash of Garg Hospital in Bhuchho Mandi.

The principal of the school, Mewa Singh, when contacted, said he was not in a position to explain the cause of the explosion as he taught Punjabi. “The teacher under whose supervision the experiment was being conducted also sustained injuries,” he added.

District Education Officer Harbans Singh Sandhu, when contacted, said such incidents were “normal” during science experiments and he would have visited the spot had the matter been serious.