'Contained cow dung, eggs, phenyl': 3 schoolgirls critical after toxic colour attack in Karnataka

GADAG: A group of four-five youngsters on bikes chased girl students of a state govt high school, got onto their bus and attacked them with chemicals-spiked colours in Holi revelry gone horribly wrong in a village in Gadag district's Lakshmeshwar taluk on Friday.

The students were hospitalised, and the condition of three is said to be critical.

The incident took place when the Class 8 and 9 girls, who were on their way to write exams, were waiting at Suvarnagiri bus stop in Lakshmeshwar taluk, about 390km from Bengaluru.

As their bus arrived, a group of troublemakers hurled a toxic mixture of colours, eggs and dirt at them.

Probe shows toxic liquid contained phenyl

The students quickly boarded the bus and shut the windows for protection, but the gang chased them on bikes, forced their way onto the bus and continued their assault, pouring chemicals-laced colours directly onto the girls, sources said.

According to preliminary investigation, the toxic liquid contained cowdung, eggs, phenyl and colours. Upon exposure, the girls unknowingly ingested small amounts of the substance, leading to breathlessness, chest pain and other symptoms.