“The body absorbed the chemical and led to the formation of high levels of meth haemoglobin which brings down oxygen supply to various body parts,” said Dr Tripti Trivedi, in-charge of MICU at Sion hospital.
“Three children and an adult are serious. Oxygen is being supplied to them externally,” said Dr Sandhya Kamat, Sion hospital dean. Doctors said all 189 people will remain in hospital for 24 hours and will be subject to a blood test to check meth-haemoglobin levels in their bodies.
“The chemical was absorbed via skin into the body. There can be late absorption in some cases,” said Dr ND Moulick, head of medicine department at Sion hospital. “We will analyse the paint used by the people.”
KEM hospital dean Dr Sanjay Oak lauded the doctors for accurately diagnosing the cases. “They consulted me and we decided on a specific antidote that is given in case of benzene poisoning. It worked. Body colouration, breathlessness and convulsion are signs of benzene poisoning. A delay could have cost dearly,” he said.
“We had to call for methylene blue from KEM hospital after over 100 people were admitted with benzene poisoning,” Dr Oak said.
Puja Bhonsle, one of the children admitted to hospital, has to appear for her HSC board exam on Friday. “I was at home and was avoiding playing Holi because of my exam. But children from my neighbourhood dragged me out and applied colours. After a while, I started feeling giddy and experienced a headache,” she said. “I have my economics paper tomorrow. I don’t know how I will appear for my board exams.” Bhonsle’s sister, Aarti, too has been admitted to hospital.
Ishwari Murugan, Kalidas’s mother, said her 12-year-old son purchased spurious paint from a shop for Rs10. “He was brought to hospital after he fell unconscious. Within 10 minutes, there were 15-20 other children who were taken to hospital from my lane,” said Ishwari, sitting outside ward no 22 at Sion hospital.
The children were first admitted in the emergency medical services department. The stable ones were later shifted to ward no 3 and 4. Their blood samples have been submitted to the Food and Drug Administration.
State women and child welfare minister Varsha Gaikwad, member of Parliament Eknath Gaikwad and state health minister Suresh Shetty visited them in hospital.
Additional commissioner of police Quaisar Khalid said investigations have revealed that a pack of outdated colour was stolen from a unit in Mahim and that has caused the reaction. “The industrial unit was shut down some time ago. A case of voluntarily causing grievous hurt and endangering lives has been registered against a person. However, no arrests have been made so far,” he said.
