A fire at an MCD school raises doubts about condition of government educational institutions

Are schools in Delhi run by government organisations safe? The question returned to haunt the city on Monday as a fire broke out at a primary school in southwest Delhi, injuring six students. The incident comes within a month of the Khajuri Khas tragedy, where several girl students were killed in a stampede at a government-run school.

"The incident took place in a primary school run by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi in Bapraula village in Najafgarh at around 11.15 am on Monday. Two fire tenders were rushed to the spot," a fire brigade official said.

According to a student who was standing a few metres from the accident site, the fire started at some loose electric wires in the school. "In spite of our repeated complaints, nothing was done to secure those wires," said the student.

Cops agree the fire broke out because of an electric short circuit.

"The fire broke out in an electric meter due to a short circuit. Six students standing near the meter suffered minor injuries. All the injured students were rushed to Sanjay Gandhi Hospital and were discharged after giving first aid," a police official said.