At least 85 students of Kandana St. Sebastian Girls’ College who were affected by the smoke and fumes emitted by the fire that broke out in a chemical factory in close proximity to the school this morning have been admitted to the Ragama Teaching Hospital.

A hospital spokesman said the students were receiving treatment and they are out of danger. Police said the accountant of the factory had died in the incident. Welisara Navy Base Fire Brigade and the Municipal Fire Brigades from Negombo and Gampaha rushed to the scene and doused the fire.

Police said the factory had been gutted and that the cause of the fire was yet to be established.