School bus catches fire in Velachery; no staff, students on board

A school bus caught fire on Thursday morning in Chennai's Velachery locality, causing alarm among residents but no injuries. The vehicle was parked on a side street when flames suddenly erupted from its engine bay.

Officials confirmed that no students or staff were on board at the time of the incident. The bus, operated by a private school, was stationary and empty, awaiting its morning pick-up route.

Fire contained quickly

Local residents spotted smoke and alerted the fire department. Two fire tenders reached the spot within minutes and doused the blaze before it could spread to nearby vehicles or buildings.

The bus suffered extensive damage to its front section. Neighbourhood onlookers gathered as firefighters worked, but no one was harmed.

Investigation under way

Police have registered a case. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined. Preliminary assessments suggest a possible electrical short circuit in the engine wiring, though officials have not confirmed this.

The school administration has been asked to submit a report. Authorities are also checking whether the vehicle's fire safety equipment was functional at the time of the incident.

No disruption to classes

The school continued its regular schedule for the day. Parents were informed about the incident through a circular that stressed that no child was ever at risk.

A senior school official said the bus was undergoing routine checks and was not in service when the fire broke out. The school runs a fleet of over a dozen buses in the area.

Similar incidents in the past

Vehicle fires, particularly in older school buses, have raised concerns in Chennai before. In 2024, a bus carrying students caught fire on the Tambaram-Maduravoyal road, leading to a panic evacuation. That incident prompted the transport department to order stricter checks on school transport.

Thursday’s fire, while minor in terms of damage, has renewed calls for regular maintenance of school buses. The Velachery bus was reportedly less than five years old and had passed its last fitness test six months ago.

Residents in the area said they were relieved that the bus was empty. “If this had happened during pick-up, it could have been a disaster,” said a neighbour who witnessed the fire.

Police have not ruled out negligence and are questioning the driver and the transport in-charge. A case under relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act is likely.

Officials have advised all schools in the zone to conduct immediate safety audits of their fleets. The transport department is expected to issue a fresh advisory on fire prevention measures in school vehicles within the next week.