Pakistan: 14 school children, including nine girls, suffer burn injuries after bottles containing an acidic chemical explode

According to Lodhran Rescue 1122 media coordinator Safdar, students from Classes I to IV were playing with a ball during recess in a shared classroom at a private school in Adda Permit, near the Multan bypass. Bottles containing laboratory chemicals had been kept in an open cupboard in the classroom, reported Dawn.

Safdar said the ball accidentally struck the bottles, causing them to fall to the floor and explode. The acidic liquid spilled onto the students, causing burn injuries.

Following an emergency call from the school administration, Rescue 1122 teams, along with four ambulances, two motorbikes, a rescue vehicle and a fire extinguisher, rushed to the scene. The injured children were provided first aid before being shifted to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital, the newspaper reported.

Police have launched an investigation into the incident.

The school owner reportedly fled the scene following the incident.

Lodhran police PRO Shani Muhammad Ramzan told Dawn by phone that school owner Chaudhry Aslam had been booked for alleged negligence.

Police registered FIR No. 1481/26 under Sections 284, 285, 286 and 337-H of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) on a complaint filed by District Education Officer (DEO) Mazhar Madni.