Over 40 school children had a miraculous escape on Thursday afternoon, after the school bus caught fire near the Ranchi SSP’s residence under Lalpur police station area. The bus belonged to Surendranath Centenary School, Deepatoli and was on its way from school to Ratu Road area for dropping students.

As soon as the engine of the bus caught fire, the driver of the bus noticed the smoke coming out of the bus, first parked the vehicle on the side and evacuated the occupants. No casualties were reported. Preliminary investigations suggest that the cause of the fire was short circuit.

Lalpur police station officer in-charge, Arvind Kumar Singh said, “The cause of fire was due to short circuit. But due to alertness of the driver lives of small students were saved.” Singh said, the driver after parking the bus at safe side first evacuated the occupants and later informed the police. Fire tenders vehicles reached the spot after receiving the information and doused the fire. The students were dropped to respective bus stoppages after school authorities arranged another bus. Singh said that the police will conduct the probe whether the school bus had any fire safety system.

Meanwhile, the students were in panic after the incident. A class VII student and one of the occupants of bus requesting anonymity said, “We thank driver and other staff for showing alertness. As soon as driver noticed smoke coming out from vehicle he parked at safe side and one by one evacuated all students.”