GUJAR KHAN: At least 50 schoolgirls, who were taken ill after being exposed to the fumes of the anti-dengue spray on Saturday, were still being treated for respiratory problems on Sunday. The principal of the school who ordered the spray was booked and an FIR registered against her and five others.

However, Nisa Akhtar, the principal of the Government High School for Girls, Domeli, was eventually granted bail when she was presented before area magistrate and civil judge Abdul Kareem in Jhelum late Saturday night.

In her statement to police, the principal said she had asked the school peon, Zulfiqar, to contact the local health authorities to carry out the anti-dengue spray in the school, Domeli Police Station Investigation Officer Afzal Mehdi told Dawn.

He quoted the principal as saying that after getting no response from local health authorities, Zulfiqar purchased anti-mosquito chemicals from a private agro-chemical store andhad the schoolsprayed on Friday evening.

She told police that she was under strict directions from her superiors to eradicate dengue from the school and claimed to have written orders to this effect. However, the IO said that she did not immediately produce any such orders.

She maintained that her intention was to rid the campus and classrooms of mosquitoes and there was no ill-will involved, the IO said.

The principal, two school peons, the owner of the agrodrug store and the sprayer have been charged under sections 269 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 284 (Negligent conduct with respect to poisonous substance), 337-H-1 (Punishment for hurt by rash or negligent act) and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Meanwhile, doctors at the Jhelum District Headquarters Hospital said that the girls still being treated for toxic inhalation were out of danger. Five of the affected girls were admitted to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Domeli, DHQ Medical Officer Dr Shabir Awan said.

He also told Dawn that the affected school had been sealed and would only be reopened after a thorough chemical inspection of the premises and the issuance of an NOC by the district administration and health authorities. This could takefourto seven days,he said.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who was already smarting from a similar incident that took place in Attock a few days ago, had already suspended Punjab Health Secretary Jawad Malik, Education Secretary (Schools) Abdul Jabbar Shaheen and Local Government Secretary Khalid Masood, as well as the DCOs, EDO Health and Education and TMOs from Jhelum and Attock.

The home department has now imposed Section 144 throughout the province, banning anti-dengue spray by private companies at government and private educational institutions and public places and no spraying will be carried out in any educational institution or public place without the express permission of the health department.