Over 250 employees of an electronic parts assembling factory near Sriperumbudur were treated for respiratory distress after they reportedly inhaled ‘noxious gas' inside the assembly unit and swooned on Friday night.
They were taken to Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre, Porur, complaining of breathlessness, nausea, throat irritation and giddiness. According to the hospital, they were given emergency treatment and discharged in a few hours. Some of them, however, remain under treatment and observation.
Earlier, on Friday evening, about 15 employees of the company, Foxconn, reportedly swooned in the same unit and were treated at a nearby private hospital.
According to police sources, Foxconn recently reopened the unit after a gap of nearly 18 months. It had shut down as in the absence of enough orders.
Senior police officers visited the factory. On investigation it was reported that spraying of insecticide in an air-conditioning unit in the assembly hall by mistake could have led to the incident. Further investigation is on to find out the exact cause.
Following the incident, the Kancheepuram district police have directed Foxconn to commence production at its plant only after getting clearance from the Inspector of Factories.
