KARACHI: A minor girl received burn injuries when a fire broke out in a school van in a Korangi locality on Friday, officials said.

“The school van [Suzuki hi-roof] was dropping children when suddenly a fire erupted,” according to Korangi SSP Syed Mohammed Ali Raza. As a result, the van driver and one little girl received minor injuries. Both were taken to a hospital for treatment while other children were sent to their homes with help of police.

The senior officer claimed that the blaze broke out due to a short circuit.

The area people and police put out the fire, in which the van was partially damaged.

A fire brigade official said they did not receive any information about the incident.

Awami Colony SHO Shahid Khan said that no one had approached the police for lodging an FIR so far.

He pointed out that the girl received minor burn wounds on her hand and was discharged from the hospital after first aid.

Meanwhile, IGP Sindh Dr Syed Kaleem Imam took notice of the fire in the school van and sought a detailed inquiry report from the DIG traffic.

This is the second such incident this month where a school van caught fire, underlining the need for adopting safety measures and ensuring fitness of school vans.

On Jan 6, four children, including a girl, sustained burn wounds when a school van caught fire in Orangi Town.

The van was carrying several children for a school-cum-seminary when a fire erupted in it at Orangi-7.

‘Two MQM-L workers held over street crimes’

The Pakistan Rangers Sindh on Friday claimed to have arrested 19 suspects, including “two workers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement” for their alleged involvement in street crimes, said a spokesperson for the paramilitary force.

The force conducted an action in Defence and apprehended two suspects — namely M. Nadeem, alias Irfan and M. Irshad, alias Kala.

“The held suspects belonged to the MQM-London,” claimed the Rangers spokesperson.

“They were involved in armed robberies and other dacoities,” added the official.

Separately, the Rangers carried out actions in SITE Superhighway, Gadap, Baldia and Defence localities and detained 15 suspects.

They were involved in street crimes and other criminal activities.

Separately, the paramilitary force apprehended two suspects in Gadap and Superhighway who were also involved in several crimes.

The Rangers also arrested two suspected drug peddlers at SITE Superhighway.

Arms, ammunition, looted goods and drugs were said to have been seized from them.

Later on, all the held suspects were handed over to the police concerned for further legal action.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2019