Four children killed as school van catches fire in Punjab

A school van carrying 12 children caught fire where 4 children charred to death in Punjab's Sangrur district on Saturday. Eight children were safely taken out by people working in nearby fields. The children were returning home from school.

Sangrur:Four children were burnt alive when a mini van of a private school carrying students caught fire in Punjab's Sangrur district on Saturday.

"The accident took place on the Longowal-Sidsamachar road," police said, adding 12 children were in the van at that time.

"Eight children were taken out safely by people working in nearby fields. However, four children in the age group of 10 to 12 years were charred to death," they added.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh ordered a magisterial enquiry into the incident.

"Very sad to learn of the news from Sangrur where we lost 4 children because their school van caught fire. Injured have been rushed to the hospital. DC and SSP Sangrur are on the spot and I have ordered a magisterial enquiry. Guilty will be strictly punished," he tweeted

Police said it was not immediately known what caused the fire in the van.

"The children were returning home from school when the incident occurred," they said.

"The van driver tried to open the doors of the bus after it caught fire but failed," police said.

Sangrur Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori, who visited the spot, told media that police had registered a case under Section 303 of IPC (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) against the school principal, its management and the owner and driver of the van.

"Preliminary inquiry indicates that the van was in a condemned condition but was being run illegally as per a report of District Transport Officer (DTO). If the DTO or any official of his office is found guilty, he will be chargesheeted," he said.

Sangrur Civil Hospital's senior surgeon, Dr Raj Kumar, said no child was admitted to the government hospitals in the district.

"The children who survived were taken away by their families from the spot," he said.

Police sources said the van was of 1990's model with gas fitted kit and was unfit to run on the road. The driver of the van ran away from the spot, they said.

Punjab Education Minister Vijay Inder Singla, who is the MLA from Sangrur, told media at the spot that the private 'Simran Public School' had purchased the "very old van" on Friday.

He announced an ex-gratia of Rs five lakh each to the families of the victims.

Sangrur MP and AAP leader Bhagwant Mann, who visited the spot, told media that the van was put to use by the school for the first day on Saturday.

He demanded the registration of a murder case against school officials and the owner of the van. He also said that among the victims is an around three-year-old girl, who went to the school for the first time and two were from same family.

Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party and SAD condemned the incident and expressed condolences for the victim's families.

"I strongly condemn the usage of LPG-powered school van that has caused this havoc. Strict action needed against the school and the civil administration," Punjab AAP chief Harpal Singh Cheema wrote on his twitter handle.

(PTI REPORT)