HYDERABAD: Several parents of students at Manthan International School in Tellapur on Wednesday demanded an independent probe after a school bus caught fire on Tuesday while Class 1 students were boarding.In an online complaint to the police, transport, education and fire-safety authorities, parents sought a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the fire, the vehicle’s fitness and its maintenance records. Several days before the incident, students said they had reported an unusual smell from the AC vent of the bus. The parents also asked authorities to verify whether any inspection or corrective action was taken.“On Tuesday, as a few students were in the bus, smoke started emanating, and they were made to get off to safety. The bus was soon engulfed in flames. Due to the impact, the tyre of another bus parked nearby exploded. In Jan also, there was an issue with the school bus, and we had protested, but the school assured us that they would conduct a review,” said B Srinivas, a parent.Taking to social media, another parent, Khushbu D, alleged this was the third such incident this year. “Three times in one academic year is not bad luck. It is negligence and a complete failure of responsibility by the school management. Fees are hiked 10% every year in the name of better infrastructure and safety. Where is it reflecting?” she asked.Surjeet Singh, principal of Manthan International School in Tellapur, told TOI, “Drivers informed the management and tried to douse the flames, but they could not. Fire extinguishers were used by trained staff. The situation was almost taken care of.”Singh described the vehicle as a new bus that was just three months old, and said the incident was a concern for them also. “The case has been handed over to the police to find out the cause. The forensic team also came and we are waiting for the reports. We have provided all information to the authorities,” he added.
