School bus catches fire at Nagpur's Wathoda Chowk, all students safe

A private school bus suddenly caught fire at Wathoda Chowk in Nagpur, causing panic in the area. Several students were on board. As the fire began to spread, residents and shopkeepers nearby rushed to the spot and helped bring the children out of the bus.

Some of the students were reportedly pulled out through the bus windows. People from the neighbourhood worked quickly to move all the children to safety, and they were taken away from the vehicle.

According to preliminary information, the fire is suspected to have been caused by a short circuit in the bus's wiring. Eyewitnesses said the fire first appeared to start at the rear of the bus and then flared up rapidly.

All the students got out in time, and no one is reported to have been injured in the incident.

The exact cause of the fire is yet to be established. The short circuit in the wiring is only preliminary information and remains a suspicion. Officials are expected to inspect the bus to determine whether the fire was caused by an electrical fault or some other technical defect.

The incident has brought the safety and maintenance of school buses into focus. Concern is being voiced in particular about the condition of the electrical wiring in buses and the safety arrangements for emergencies.

An investigation into the incident is under way, and further details are awaited.