21 students fall ill after drinking water containing excess chlorine near Pollachi
Twenty-one students in Pollachi, India, were hospitalized after drinking school water with an excessively high concentration of chlorine. The incident occurred because chlorine was added to a nearly empty tank as a dengue prevention measure, but the students are now in stable condition.
Why it matters
This incident highlights the risks associated with improper chemical handling in public infrastructure and the need for stricter safety protocols in schools.
Twenty-one students of a government middle school at Unjavelampatti near Pollachi in Coimbatore district were treated at the Pollachi Government Hospital after they complained of stomach pain and throat irritation after drinking water at the school on Tuesday (August 18, 2026) afternoon.
Parents rushed to the school after teachers alerted them and took the affected children to the hospital. The students were admitted to the children’s ward after initial treatment in the emergency department. Police and revenue officials visited the hospital and conducted an inquiry.
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