Operations at the state-run Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited (KMML) in the Chavara area of Kollam district were suspended on Thursday due to a suspected gas leak from the sponge plant. 

The Department of Factories and Boilers ordered the suspension after 67 students from nearby schools got admitted in hospitals with nausea and breathing difficulties on Wednesday due to breathing in poisonous fumes from the plant.  Most of the students were declared to be out of danger, while 10 of them are still being observed in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a private hospital. 

A team of doctors from Thiruvananthapuram has been called to monitor the treatment of the children. 

Admitting that the incident could have been the result of a leakage of burning gas from the plant, KMML officials maintained that they shut up shop soon after the alleged gas leak on Wednesday.

Following allegations that there was a conspiracy against the public sector company, the state government on Thursday ordered parallel probes by a team of technical experts and ADGP (Intelligence) A Hemachandran. Labour Minister Shibu Baby John  said the alleged leak happened when the plant had already closed operations.