A timely rescue by local people ensured the rescue of 24 students of a primary school after the van in which they were travelling was gutted in an accidental fire in Tirumangalam on Friday.
According to police, the van was returning to the school in Tirumangalam after picking up students up to Class V from Kilavaneri. When the van was proceeding on Virudhunagar-Tirumangalam four-way road, the driver noticed in the rear view mirror smoke emanating from the rear side of the vehicle around 8.45 a.m.
He immediately stopped the vehicle and tried to pull out the children. The people who were at a bakery along the road rushed to his help and evacuated all the children.
Within minutes, the fire spread into the van gutting the upholstery and tyres. Firemen from Tirumangalam Fire and Rescue Services station, led by Station Officer M. Udhayakumar, put out the flames after sometime.
Tirumangalam Town Police are investigating.
Published – November 21, 2025 07:30 pm IST
