Panvel bus mishap: custody of driver,aide extended

The police custody of the driver and cleaner of the mini bus that caught fire in Panvel on Thursday while ferrying school students has been extended till August 24.

Driver Vishwanath Phadtare (24),who is also the owner of the vehicle,and cleaner Anil Yadav (20) had allegedly jumped out of the bus and watched from a safe distance as the bus was engulfed in flames and children were trapped inside.

Of the 38 children of CKT School who were travelling in the bus,22 suffered burns. One of the six kids admitted to the Airoli-based National Burns Centres intensive burns care unit (IBCU) was put on ventilator late on Thursday night.

We had to do a tracheostomy as he had severe facial swelling. He has 70 per cent burns, said Dr SM Keswani,burns surgeon,National Burns Centre.

Meanwhile,the Regional Transport Office has launched a drive to verify the safety of school buses in Panvel area.

Navi Mumbai police commissioner Gulabrao Pol felicitated three policemen and a civilian who had rescued the children from the bus.

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