Telangana: Narrow escape for 40 SW residential students after fire engulfs room

HYDERABAD: Around 40 Class VIII students had a providential escape from a fire incident at a social welfare residential school in Shaikpet near Filmnagar late on Friday night. It was triggered when some students decided to perform Ganesh puja in their room on the school's first floor around 10 pm. The boys used a blanket to shield the lamp from the fan's gusts.

The precautionary measure to safeguard the flame led to the blanket inadvertently catching fire, which spread at a rapid pace. Showing a good presence of mind, the students managed to escape even as flames engulfed the room.

Recounting the harrowing incident later, the school principal Nallagonda Balaswamy said "Two students were fast asleep and took a while to wake up. We shifted them to Osmania General Hospital immediately. While one has been discharged after receiving first-aid, the other students, whose hands received deep burns, is undergoing treatment."

Fearing that they would be reprimanded for staying up late, they held the ceremony without adult supervision, the shell-shocked students said.

Meanwhile, a case has been registered at the Filmnagar police station and investigations are underway to find out if there was any negligence on the part of school staff or students.