Five girls who failed in the class 10 examination and one girl who had scored less marks than what she expected to, consumed poison and were admitted to the government Rajaji hospital (GRH) in the city where the condition of five of them was described as “critical” by one of the doctors at around 6 pm.
The girls were identified as — Jayalakshmi (Sholavandan), P. Prabhadevi, Suryadevi, Soundarya and Valarmathi (all four from Samayanallur and studying in a government school there) and Selvapriya of Poovendhi studying in a local school.
Selvapriya, who is said to have consumed hair dye, became critical within 30 minutes of admission and was shifted to ICU.
Soundarya’s uncle Sonaimuthu said the four girls had consumed a medicine used to treat dandruff.
Valarmathi and Soundarya were later shifted to the ICU.