Kubang Pasu district police chief Rodzi Abu Hassan said the spill occurred around 10.30am when three workers from a contractor company were transporting 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, the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Setar and the Ayer Hitam clinic for treatment.

“They are all under observation after receiving outpatient treatment,” he told reporters here today.

The swift action taken by school authorities, the fire and rescue department as well as health ministry officials managed to control the situation.

Rodzi said most of the students experienced nausea and headaches. All the nine boys and 52 girls were now in a stable condition, he added.

Kedah fire and rescue department director Sayani Saidon said they received a distress call at 12.20pm about the spill and a team from the Jitra fire and rescue station was dispatched.

He said the team finished cleaning the chemical spill and ventilation work at 2.45pm.