CHENNAI: Twenty-seven students narrowly escaped after a fire broke out on a private school bus near Paranur on the Chennai-Tiruchy National Highway on Saturday morning.

The prompt action of the driver and school staff helped evacuate all the students safely and prevent the bus from being severely damaged.

On Saturday morning, a school bus carrying 27 students enroute to Maharishi Vidya Mandir, a private school at Echankaranai near Chengalpattu, was proceeding along the National Highway near Paranur when thick smoke suddenly began billowing from the engine compartment, accompanied by sparks. Alerted by the smoke, the driver immediately pulled over to the roadside and opened the emergency exit and other doors.

The driver and school staff quickly evacuated all 27 students from the bus. The driver then attempted to extinguish the fire using the extinguisher on the bus. Drivers of buses belonging to a nearby private factory also rushed to the spot and joined the efforts to put out the fire. Their timely intervention helped bring the situation under control and save the bus from major damage.

Meanwhile, after receiving information about the incident, the school management arranged for a replacement bus to reach the spot. No injuries were reported among the students.

However, the sudden fire in the school bus triggered concern among parents and residents in Chengalpattu. Singaperumal Koil police are investigating the incident to ascertain the exact cause of the fire.