Some six pupils got burns injuries after a school bus caught fire near the Qatar Hospital in Orangi Town, here on Saturday. Rescue sources said 14 children were present inside the vehicle at the time of the incident while six of them were rushed to the Civil Hospital Burns Ward, and the rest were shifted to Qatar Hospital.
The Police have ruled out that the fire was caused by a gas cylinder explosion. "There was an LPG cylinder in the van which is in perfect condition," police said. The children are said to be aged between seven to 10 years. Fourteen children were in the van when it caught fire near Qatar Hospital in Orangi Town, police said.
Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Shah took notice of the incident and has summoned a report from the Education Secretary. He said private schools must check the fitness of the vans for their students' use. Transport Minister Owais Qadir has also summoned a report on the incident.
There was an extra seat installed in the van to accommodate more children than van's original capacity. An LPG cylinder was fitted in the front of the vehicle, right next to the driver's seat.