Private school van catches fire in Bengaluru after fuel leak, 8 children saved by passerby

The seat cushions had caught fire fearing which the children refused to come out.
Private school van catches fire in Bengaluru after fuel leak, 8 children saved by passerby
Private school van catches fire in Bengaluru after fuel leak, 8 children saved by passerby
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Eight school children had a narrow escape after their private school van caught fire near Puttenahalli metro station in Bengaluru on Saturday. They were saved by a 38-year-old man, who broke open the rear windshield and helped the children escape, reported Bangalore Mirror.

According to the report, the van driver reportedly left the children in the van to get a mechanic to fix a fuel leak that had developed in the van. While he was gone, the van caught fire. The van was reportedly carrying 12 children, of whom four children got out as soon as they noticed the flames.

The other eight, seated in the rear and middle rows, were unable to get out and started screaming for help from inside.

Pradeep Kumar, who was passing by the burning van, immediately broke the windshield to rescue the children.

“A few children were already standing out and requesting passersby to help the others. I just got out of the cab and ran near the van and heard the children crying. Since there were children at the back of the vehicle, I broke open the rear windshield with my hand and pulled out five kids from the van,” Pradeep told BM.

He added that the trapped children were scared and unable to escape through the door as the seat cushions had caught fire and were giving off smoke and fumes.

Two children were moved to the nearby Geetha Clinic and treated for minor burn injuries, reported BM.

Pradeep, who had cuts on his arm during the rescue, was rushed to Malathi Manipal hospital in Jayanagar 9th block.

BM reported that a case was booked in the KS Layout police station, but the owner and the driver of the vehicle were not traceable to record their statement.

When The News Minute contacted the KS Layout police station, an official said that an investigation was ongoing, but refused to provide any further details on the case.

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