Chhattisgarh: Class 4 girl critical after mystery blast in school washroom

RAIPUR: A class IV girl was critically injured in a mysterious blast inside the washroom of a private school in Bilaspur on Friday.

What happened is yet unclear but the nine-year-old suffered grievous burns, say police. The explosion rattled the school around 10.15am, said city SP, Civil Lines, Nimitesh Singh. School staff ran towards the washroom and heard a girl screaming in pain and calling for help from inside a locked toilet.

By the time they could break down the door and reach her, she was unconscious. They found her slumped over, with burns all over her body. She was rushed to hospital where her condition was said to be critical.

The cause of the explosion is yet to be ascertained, CSP Singh said, adding that the school management suspects someone may have placed sodium or some other chemical used in the school laboratory in the washroom, which exploded on coming in contact with water. Police are interviewing students and staff.

Parents of the victim and other students are shaken by the incident and warn of protests unless better safety measures are taken. They demand to see CCTV footage. Police are checking if some students played a mischief by misusing chemicals from the school lab without realising the consequences.


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