Date:22/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/22/stories/2008112260180500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

7 children, autorickshaw driver injured

Staff Reporter

Chemical from a plastic container hit them in a freak mishap

Photo: K.Pichumani

Some of the children who were travelling in the autorickshaw on CTH Road when chemical from a plastic container fell on them on Friday. —

CHENNAI: Seven children with learning disabilities, who were going to school on Friday in an autorickshaw on the Chennai Tiruvallur High Road, were injured when a chemical spilled on them from a plastic container.

Police said that workers were unloading empty containers from a truck at a shop dealing in used plastic at Mannurpet, when one of the containers slipped and rolled on the road. An MTC bus passing that way ran over it and the leftover chemical in the container hit the children and the autorickshaw driver.

The children, aged between eight and eleven, were on their way to Srishti Special School in Mogappair East.

While H. Pranav of Standard III suffered injury in his right eye, C. Hariharan, S. Anita, R. Niveth, N. Pradeep Kumar, M. Prateesh and Vijayendran sustained injuries on their face and hands.

Autorickshaw driver N. Maarimuthu said, “It all happened in a fraction of minute, giving us little time to escape. The chemical fell all over the autorickshaw and the children. I felt a burning sensation on my face and hands,” said Marimuthu.

All the victims were rushed to Ambattur Rotary Hospital. They were discharged after a few hours, the police said.

Owner of scrap shop K. Manimuthu and lorry driver D. Duraisingh were arrested . The police said that the barrel contained citric acid.