Ten children sustained burn injuries in Bihar’s Saran district when a CNG-powered school van burst into flames on National Highway 331, police reported. The incident occurred around 1pm near Dhadhibadi village, as the van was transporting children home from school.
The school van driver noticed smoke near the engine and immediately stopped the vehicle to investigate. However, the flames quickly spread to the rear of the van. The driver, along with other passers-by, quickly rescued the children by breaking the windows and pulling them out of the burning vehicle. A fire engine later extinguished the flames.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and authorities are seeking explanations from the school as to why so many children were being transported in a single van.
Sadar Sub Divisional Officer Sanjay Kumar Rai stated that five children were taken to Sadar Hospital for treatment of burn injuries, while the other five were treated at the Baniyapur Referral Hospital. Fortunately, the condition of all the children is reported to be stable, and they are out of danger.
Education Minister Sunil Kumar stated that he had spoken with the Saran District Magistrate, Aman Samir, and asked him to ensure proper medical treatment for the injured children and provide any other necessary assistance.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of school transportation and underscores the importance of stringent safety regulations for school vans and buses. Authorities are expected to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the fire and take appropriate measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
