School Van Catches Fire in Muzaffarnagar, Injuring Four Children and Driver
A distressing incident unfolded on Friday morning in the Purkazi area of Muzaffarnagar district, Uttar Pradesh, when a school van transporting young students caught fire, resulting in burn injuries to four children and the driver. The vehicle, belonging to Ashish English Academy, was en route near Sammo village on the Harnagar-Jhabarpur road when the blaze erupted.
Timely Rescue Averts Major Tragedy
According to police reports, the fire was likely triggered by a combination of a short circuit and a fuel leak in the van. Fortunately, prompt intervention by local residents played a crucial role in evacuating the nursery and LKG students from the burning vehicle, preventing what could have been a catastrophic outcome. The injured children and driver Amit Kumar, aged 45, sustained minor burns on their hands and were swiftly transported to a nearby hospital, where they received first aid treatment.
Investigation Reveals Vehicle Safety Lapses
DSP Ravi Shankar Mishra confirmed that an investigation is currently underway, and the van has been seized by authorities. The regional transport office lodged a formal complaint at the Purkazi police station, leading to the registration of a case under BNS Section 281 for negligent driving and Section 190 of the Motor Vehicles Act. The charges have been filed against the school management, the driver, and the vehicle owner.
Assistant Regional Transport Officer Sunil Kumar Mishra disclosed alarming details about the vehicle's condition, stating, "The van was registered in 2009 in Delhi under the name of an NGO and is not fit for road use." This revelation underscores significant safety violations that contributed to the incident.
Broader Concerns Over School Transport Safety
Basic Shiksha Adhikari Sandeep Kumar announced that the BSA office is also probing the matter and will take appropriate action based on the findings. This fire adds to a growing list of school vehicle safety incidents in Uttar Pradesh. Recent tragedies include the death of a UKG student in Kasganj on March 1 after falling through a damaged bus floor, and the fatal accident of a nine-year-old girl in Agra's Etmadpur area on March 11, who fell from a school bus and was run over.
These repeated incidents highlight urgent systemic issues in school transportation, including inadequate vehicle maintenance, regulatory oversight failures, and negligence by educational institutions. Authorities are under increasing pressure to enforce stricter safety protocols and hold accountable those responsible for endangering young lives.
