At least 22 children were injured Thursday when their schoolbus caught fire in a suburb of India's financial hub Mumbai, police and school officials said.The bus was carrying 38 schoolchildren, mostly aged between 8 and 10, to CKT High School in Navi Mumbai, when a short-circuit led to the fire, police said.
One child suffered severe burns and was in critical condition, while 17 others were being treated for burn injuries, Ram Seth Thakur, chairman of CKT High School, said. Seth said another 16 children escaped unhurt, while four who had suffered minor injuries while escaping from the bus had been treated and released from hospitals.
The incident occurred near Panvel town, about 60 kilometres west of Mumbai, the police said. The bus, which was chartered by the parents, was charred completely. "Preliminary reports indicate that the mini-bus caught fire due to a short circuit but investigations are on," assistant commissioner of police V Chandanshive said.