Chlorine Gas Leak In Andhra Municipal Swimming Pool; Over 10 Students Hospitalised

Vijaywada: More than ten students in the age group of 8 to 14 years fell ill following chlorine gas leakage in a municipal swimming pool in Vijayawada district of Andhra Pradesh, the swimming pool academy supervisor told news agency ANI on Thursday.

The accident took place on Wednesday in Vijayawada Municipal Corporation Swimming Pool while the children were practising.  All the children were swimming in a 50-metre pool and the chlorine gas leaked from a tanker of the 25-meter pool.

The children were preparing for the competitions to be held in Eluru on December 11.

“The incident happened at around 8:30 pm on Wednesday night. Some of the swimmers requested us to give them permission for swimming as they are having a competition on December 11. We told them to get permission from the municipal commissioner and they said that have permission,” Rambabu, the swimming pool academy supervisor was quoted as saying.

Ten sick children were shifted to a government hospital while one child was shifted to a private hospital in critical condition and later on re-shifted to a government hospital. However, all the students are stable now.

According to parents, the danger is due to improper chlorine system maintenance and management.

“Due to the leakage of chlorine gas in the swimming pool, 10 to 12 students aged between 8-14 years fell ill. We took them to a government hospital. The gas leakage happened due to old equipment and an old gas cylinder. It was controlled later. All students are stable now. One of our staff also fell ill in this incident along with students,” Rambabu was quoted as saying.

“I am only the person who records the data of swimmers and the rest are monitored by DFO and municipal corporation officials. The swimming pool is scheduled up to 8 but with the request of the swimmers, it was up to 8:30 pm. We informed the officials about the incident. They had reached the hospital and given assurance to their parents,” he added.