20 children sustain burn injuries as school bus catches fire in Mumbai

Panvel (Maharashtra), Aug 20(ANI): At least 20 school children sustained burn injuries, seven of them severe burns, when a school bus caught fire in Panvel in Raigad district of Maharashtra on Thursday, police said.

"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," said Ahmed Pathan, Police Inspector of Panvel.

According to reports, the private mini-bus was on its way to CKT High School in Navi Mumbai, situated about 30 kilometres from Panvel, when it caught fire around 7 a. m.

The injured were being treated at the National Burn Centre, Life Line Hospital, MGM Hospital and the Masina Hospital in Mumbai.

"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," said Dr Veena Sangare, in-charge at the Masina Hospital.

Meanwhile, driver and cleaner of the bus have been arrested and will be produced before a local court on Friday. (ANI)