School bus catches fire, 20 kids injured

At least 20 school children were injured, seven of them seriously, when a school bus caught fire at Navi Mumbai on Thursday, even as two persons were arrested for negligence in the case, police said.

At least 20 school children were injured, seven of them seriously, when a school bus caught fire at Navi Mumbai on Thursday, even as two persons were arrested for negligence in the case, police said.

HT Image

"Seven school children sustained severe burn injuries after a school bus they were traveling in caught fire. Of the seven, five were admitted to National Burns Hospital and two at Masina Hospital. The children with over 50 per cent burns are in critical condition," Police Inspector, Panvel, Ahmed Pathan said.

The five children admitted at National Burns Hospital in Airoli are Ronit Gore, Ankita Kurgale, Neeraj Kurgale, Ankit Pokshe and Ajinkya Dangare. While the two admitted to Masina Hospital in Byculla are Koustab Puranik and Riya Gupte.

"The two children admitted at Masina Hospital are in the ICU and are in critical, but stable condition. The 11-year-old girl got 60 per cent burn injuries on her back, upper arms and legs. While the 10-year-old boy suffered 40 per cent burns on his lower legs," Masina Hospital's in-charge Dr Veena Sangare said.

The other injured students of CKT School in New Panvel were rushed to nearby hospitals, including Life Line Hospital and MGM Hospital, for treatment.

Driver of the bus, Vishwanath Thadetare, 24, and cleaner Anil Yadav, 20, have been arrested and will be produced before a local court on Friday.