Kochi: A working volcano model exploded during a science fair organised by an aided school near here on Saturday, injuring 59 students and a teacher.
The injuries were not serious. The incident took place at the Holy Family High School, Angamaly, around 11.30 am. Gun powder used in the model to simulate eruption caused the blast, the police said.
Two students, who prepared the volcano model, and teacher Sr. Linsa, one of the judges, were among those injured.
The students who were hurt in the incident were from classes 5-10. Most of the children suffered burn and cut injuries to their face, arms and legs while ten of them got injured in the eye. Solid components such as paving tiles and stones used to prepare the model shattered all over in the impact of the explosion.
Children, who were terrified by the loud noise which temporarily impaired their hearing, were discharged after treatment by the evening.
The ill-fated model was made by covering a half feet long PVC pipe, filled with explosive substance, with layers of mud. The idea was to trigger an explosion and give the visual impression of lava flow from a real volcano.
The model exploded with a deafening noise after the students ignited the structure when two teachers came over for evaluation. The sound of the explosion was heard at least a kilometre from the spot, the police said.
According to them, around one kilograms of explosive substances were used to trigger the blast. It was told the students filled the pipe with additional amount of explosives in order to make the eruption go higher and last longer after one of the working models went out soon after it was ignited.
A police team led by DySP Sojan and dog and bomb disposal squads conducted inspections at the school. Samples collected from the site will be sent to the chemical analysis laboratory at Kakkanad and the State Forensic Science Laboratory at Thiruvananthapuram, said CI Muhammed Riyas.
The police have registered a case against the school authorities for negligent handling of explosive substances.
Innocent MP and Roji M John MLA visited the students undergoing treatment at the Little Flower hospital in Angamaly.
