Four children burnt alive as school van catches fire in Punjab; CM orders probe

In a tragic incident, four children were charred to death when an illegally run, old and ramshackle mini van of a private school carrying students caught fire in Punjab's Sangrur district on Saturday, police said.

The accident took place on the Longowal-Sidsaachar road, they said, adding 12 children were in the van at the time of mishap.

While eight children were rescued from the burning van by people working in nearby fields, four others, including an around three-year-old girl, were burnt alive in the vehicle, they added.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh ordered a magisterial enquiry into the incident.

"Very sad to learn of the news from Sangrur where we lost 4 children because their school van caught fire. Injured have been rushed to the hospital. DC and SSP Sangrur are on the spot and I have ordered a magisterial enquiry. Guilty will be strictly punished," he tweeted