As many as 19 students from Bengaluru-based Adarsha Nursing College developed uneasiness after breathing air that was laced with rat poison that was sprayed in their hostel to curb the rodent menace.

The incident occurred at the students’ hostel at Jnanabharati on Sunday night.

Following uneasiness, all the students were rushed to private hospitals. While 16 of them recovered, three have been shifted to the ICU, according to the police. Three students Jayan Varghese, Dileesh, and Jo Mon, were moved to the ICU after they were very unwell.

Prima facie, the police found that Manje Gowda, a housekeeping staff at the hospital sprayed a large quantity of rat poison on the diesel generator placed in the hostel.

“It was found that students began complaining of dizziness and vomiting sensation one after another. Some of them also complained that they were unable to sit or stand properly,” an investigating officer said, adding: “We will book a criminal case against Manje Gowda and others under Section 286 (Negligent conduct with respect to poisonous substance) of Bharatiya Nyaha Sanhita (BNS).”

Police are contemplating filing a complaint against staff responsible for spraying the poison.

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