JITRA: A total of 61 Sekolah Menengah Agama (SMA) Nurul Islam students from Ayer Hitam near here were being treated at hospitals and clinics after inhaling sulphuric acid fumes following a spill on Tuesday (April 12).

       Kubang Pasu district police chief Supt Rodzi Abu Hassan said the spill occurred around 10.30am when three workers from a contractor company were moving and transferring barrels of expired sulphuric acid.

       "Following the spill, the wind spread the fumes into a classroom where the students were studying.

       "A total of 61 students, aged 14 to 17, were sent to Jitra Hospital, Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Setar and Ayer Hitam clinic for treatment. They are under observation and have received outpatient treatment,” he told reporters here.

       The swift action taken by school authorities, the Fire and Rescue Department as well as Health Ministry officials managed to control the situation.

       Supt Rodzi said most of the students experienced nausea and headaches, but all the nine boys and 52 girls were in stable condition.

       Meanwhile, Kedah Fire and Rescue Department director Asst Senior Fire Commissioner Sayani Saidon said they received a distress call at 12.20pm, and a team from Jitra Fire and Rescue station was dispatched to the location.

       He added that the team finished cleaning the chemical spill and ventilation work by 2.45pm. - Bernama