Foul smell in classroom leaves 15 students hospitalized in Noakhali

Several students fell ill after a pungent smell suddenly spread through their classroom at a school in Hatiya, Noakhali, with 15 of them being admitted to the upazila health complex after losing consciousness.

The incident occurred at Tamaraddi Jorkhali High School on Monday morning (September 7).

Hospital officials said the students were rushed to the facility around noon. Many of them were still unconscious. According to school sources, classes began as usual at 10am. About an hour later, four seventh-grade girls suddenly lost consciousness. After being sent home, they regained their senses. However, shortly after, 15 to 20 more students from other classrooms also fell unconscious and were taken to the hospital with the help of locals.

Upazila Health Complex Emergency Medical Officer Mansur Uddin said 10 students had been admitted to the hospital by 2pm, with many of them yet to regain consciousness.

School headteacher Jasim Uddin said he could not say what caused the students to lose consciousness.

Doctors said various tests were being conducted, and preliminary information suggested that students fell ill after a pungent smell spread through the classrooms.

Upazila Executive Officer Rasel Iqbal and Officer-in-Charge Kabir Hossain visited the hospital following the incident. Police were deployed to maintain order as crowds gathered to see the students.