The incident happened in the Millat Nagar area of Oshiwara suburb. The children in the age group of five to ten years were studying in the Millat High School. They had boarded the van after the end of school hours and were returning home. The police said as soon as the Van driver switched on the ignition key, the vehicle caught fire and three children - two girls and a boy - died instantaniously.

The three children had sustained 100 per cent burns. Eight children who suffered 50 to 80 per cent burns were being treated at the nearby Cooper and another hospital. One child suffered minor burns and was discharged from the hospital after treatment, police said.

It is learnt that the children lived in Malad suburb. Two girls who died have been identified as Madeeha and Hadisa. The names of seven injured children were given as Zubair, Mudasir, Shakeel, Talha, Zohra, Sumaiya and Tayyeba. The driver of the van, identified as Rafiq Qureshi, escaped unhurt and was arrested by the police for further investigation.

Additional Commissioner of Police Archana Tyagi clarified that while preliminary information had suggested the explosion of a CNG (compressed natural gas) cylinder inside the van, subsequent investigations confirmed that the van was fitted with LPG cylinder which was found intact.

“We suspect there may have been some leakage of the gas which resulted in the fire, but will wait for some experts to check it and tell us,” she said. Most of the taxis and auto rickshaws in Mumbai and a few private vehicles have been converted to CNG (compress natural gas), which is considered as safe and eco-friendly fuel. Similarly, a number of private cars in the city have been converted to Auto LGP, which too is considered safe and non-polluting. These LPG kits are normally fitted in the certified garages.

Maruti Udyog Ltd also manufactures eight sitter Vans provided with factory fitted LPG kits, but it was not known whether the vehicle which caught fire had factory fitted or privated installed LPG kit.

The mishap shocked the parents of school children in that area and many gathered outside the school to register their protest. Many school children in Mumbai travel in private vehicles like LPG vans or other vehicles to reach schools. Parents blamed the school authorities for not providing adequate transport to take children to their classes.