Gadag: Seven schoolgirls in Karnataka's Gadag district were hospitalised after a group of miscreants threw chemical-laced colours at them during Holi celebrations in Lakshmeshwar town on Friday.
According to the preliminary information, four of the seven hospitalised schoolgirls from Lakshmeshwar, Gadag, are in critical condition, experiencing breathlessness and chest pain. They have been transferred to the Gadag Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) for advanced treatment, while the other three girls are receiving care at the local government hospital.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage, prompting the parents of the victims to rush to the hospital. Police have launched a manhunt to apprehend the perpetrators responsible for the brutal attack.
According to the police, the schoolgirls were waiting at the bus stand near Suvarnagiri Tanda, Lakshmeshwar town, to board a bus and go to school, as all of them were supposed to write their exams today.
A gang of miscreants on bikes stopped near the bus stand and began throwing colours at the schoolgirls. As the girls tried to escape by boarding their school bus, the gang chased after them, boarded the bus, and deliberately poured chemical-laced colours on the seven victims, sources said.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the liquid contained a mixture of cow dung, eggs, phenol, and colours. Upon exposure, the girls unknowingly ingested small amounts of the substance, causing them to experience breathlessness and other symptoms.
The hospital scenes were heart-wrenching as the girls struggled to breathe and suffered from severe chest pain. Senior police officers visited the hospital, reassuring parents that severe action would be taken against the culprits.
The accused managed to escape on bikes, and the police are gathering information from locals and other passengers on the school bus to track them down. More details are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses. Authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the case.
(inputs from IANS)