20160607 India Schoolbus catches fire, driver saves 45 kids
India Jun 06 2016 “Automobile & Railway” “Other”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : 0 or unknown Injured : injured 0 or unknown
Schoolbus catches fire, driver saves 45 kids
Updated: 2016-06-07-02:39
An alert driver noticed smoke in the engine of the schoolbus in the nick of time and helped 45 children and five staffers alight safely from the vehicle on the city outskirts on Monday afternoon.
The bus was completely destroyed in the incident, a police officer said. Children’s schoolbags and books, too, caught fire.
Around 3.45pm, driver Madhu Kumar was ferrying the children home from Navkis School on Bannur Road when he smelt something amiss and looked into the bonnet to find a spark. Without losing a minute, he pulled the 50-seater bus to the kerb and told all on board to get out of the vehicle immediately.
The driver, along with the staffers and senior students, completed the evacuation in just three minutes. Class X students Abhishek and Shashi Kumar showed their presence of mind by force-opening the emergency exit and brought the children out of the bus.
Madhu has been with the school as a bus driver for five years. He told TOI: “I smelt a cable burning. I looked into the bonnet to find fire. I yanked out the fire extinguisher from inside the bus and tried to douse it. But the blaze was spreading fast, and reduced the bus to its charred metal frame.”
Dr P Shivu’s two sons, studying Class X and Class VI, were on the bus. He said: “My elder son Abhsihek was seated on one of the back seats. The driver and school staff alerted them. He and Shashi Kumar opened the emergency exit. We appreciate the driver for acting swiftly.”
Five firefighters brought the blaze under control in 25 minutes, said Obayya Moolya, an officer with the Bannimantap fire station.
School principal Vasanth Latha said: “A short circuit is said to have caused the fire. Madhukar’s efforts saved the children. We will reward him suitably.” School authorities called up parents to assure them that their children were safe. The staff members stayed on the campus till 9pm.
Web Source: THE TIMES OF INDIA
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysuru/Schoolbus-catches-fire-driver-saves-45-kids/articleshow/52628258.cms