India, Aug. 11 -- Seventeen children had a narrow escape on Tuesday after the school bus they were travelling in caught fire near Dhauwa village in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer. Police said the bus driver immediately stopped the bus and evacuated all the children safely before the flames engulfed the vehicle and burnt it completely. No one was injured. Bags, books and other belongings kept inside the bus were destroyed.

Police said three fire tenders were rushed to the spot. Preliminary investigation suggested that a short circuit in the bus wiring may have caused the fire.

Mahendra Kumar Sirvi, a local police officer, said the bus was carrying children from Pithla village to a private school, around 12 km away. When the bus reached near Dhauw...