Rajasthan: School van carrying children catches fire in Jhunjhunu; all safe
Jhunjhunu, June 30
A school van carrying around 10 children caught fire in Rajasthan's Jhunjhunu district early on Tuesday morning, but all the students were rescued safely after the driver acted promptly and evacuated them before the flames spread.
The van was carrying around eight to 10 children from Copper towards Singhana when the incident occurred near Kanchania ki Dhani, officials said.
The vehicle belonged to a private playschool in Singhana.
Officials said the driver noticed the fire and immediately stopped the vehicle before quickly helping all the children get out. Owing to the swift response, no child sustained any injuries in the incident.
The fire engulfed the van shortly after the children were evacuated. Local residents gathered at the spot, and the blaze was later brought under control.
The exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.
Further details awaited.
The incident comes weeks after a major fire at an alleged illegal firecracker manufacturing unit in Jaipur claimed three lives.
On June 9, at least three people were killed, and five others sustained injuries after a fire broke out at an illegal firecracker manufacturing unit operating from a house in Jaipur's Kho Nagoriyan area, officials said.
According to Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Yugantar Sharma, the fire was brought under control, and the injured are undergoing treatment.
"A fire broke out at an illegal firecracker factory in the Kho-Nagoriyan area of Jaipur. An illegal firecracker factory was operating inside the house, and a gas cylinder also caught fire. Three people died, and five are undergoing treatment. About eight people were present in the house, including one woman and one child," Sharma said.
Earlier, Jaipur Collector Sandesh Nayak said the incident occurred in what appeared to be a residential area and that authorities were investigating the exact nature of the materials stored inside the premises.
"It appears to be a residential area. It seems that some materials stored in a small space here caught fire. We are currently gathering the facts. Some people are seriously injured and have been referred to SMS Hospital. We have the situation fully under control, and the fire is contained," Nayak said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Thank God all children are safe. 🙏 But this is a wake-up call for parents and school management. We send our kids in these vans trusting their safety. The government should mandate fire extinguishers and emergency drills in all school transport. Better safe than sorry.
First the Jaipur firecracker factory tragedy, now this. Our safety standards are seriously lacking. The driver deserves applause, but this is not the first time a school van has caught fire. Why is there no strict enforcement of vehicle fitness checks for school transport?
As a parent, this sends chills down my spine. We entrust our children to these vans every day. The driver's presence of mind is commendable, but why should it come to that? Regular maintenance of school vehicles should be non-negotiable. The authorities must act now.
Good to hear everyone is safe. But two fires in two weeks - the cracker factory and now this. Something is very wrong with our safety protocols. The illegal cracker unit in a residential area was a disaster waiting to happen. And now, school vans with no safety gear. We need accountability, not just relief.
Thankful the children are safe. But why are we always reacting after incidents instead of preventing them? The driver deserves all the credit, but the system failed. Every school van should have a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, and proper emergency exits. This is basic safety.
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