Students of an MCD-run primary school in Baprolla, Southwest Delhi, had a narrow escape when the main electricity board of the school caught fire on Monday morning.

The incident was reported at 11.15 am from Nigam Pratibha co-educational school.

A few injured students were taken to the hospital and later discharged.

Police officials said most students were in the playground at that time since the mishap occurred during recess. Some students, though, were loitering in the corridor. Amit, a student of class IV, was coming down the stairs when he was suddenly engulfed in smoke. “It was difficult to breathe as there was smoke in my eyes and nostrils,” he said.

A few minutes later, it emerged that the central electricity meter board had caught fire due to a short-circuit. The electrical installation is located near the main staircase. Soon, teachers evacuated the school premises.

“As police and fire officials were on the way to the school, the school staff used fire-extinguishers and sand to control the flames,” said Naresh, a peon at the school.

Two fire engines sent to the spot brought the blaze under control within half an hour.

Nine children present in close proximity suffered minor injuries and were taken to the nearby Sanjay Gandhi Hospital. They were discharged a few hours later after medical attention.

“It was providence that saved our children; things could have turned much worse,” said an injured boy’s mother at the Sanjay Gandhi Hospital.

The children who received medical attention were Neeraj, Gopal, Deepak, Jyoti, Shiv Nandan, Amit, Kiranpal and Jitender — all students in classes III to V.

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