Lucknow: A five-year-old boy suffered burn injuries after a school bus carrying 25 students, aged between four and eight years, caught fire in the Itaunja area on the outskirts of the state capital on Saturday morning.Later in the day, police lodged an FIR against the school’s management and driver on a complaint by transport department officials.According to police, the children were inside the bus when the fire broke out, triggering panic. The vehicle was stopped and the children were safely evacuated. However, a five-year-old boy sustained burns on his hand while getting off the bus after it accidentally came into contact with the hot bonnet over the engine. The injured child was immediately taken to the PHC in Itaunja for treatment.After receiving medical care, he was taken home by his family.Bus UP 81 BT 6203 was allegedly being operated without valid fitness, permit, insurance and pollution certificates.On a complaint by Assistant Regional Transport Officer (Enforcement), Lucknow, Alok Kumar Yadav, police lodged an FIR under Sections 125 (act endangering the life or personal safety of others), 132 (assault or criminal force), 189(2) (unlawful assembly), 191(1) (rioting), 218 (obstruction), and 221 (obstruction or interference with a public servant in the discharge of public functions) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).Officials said the vehicle was registered in Etah and had obtained a no-objection certificate for Lucknow in July 2025, but was not registered with the Lucknow transport office. RTO challaned the bus.The incident also prompted officials to inspect 17 other vehicles at the school. Thirteen were seized after their permits or fitness certificates were found to have expired, while four others were challaned.
