She chose to sit with friends,got critically injured

“Six kids were brought to us around 10 am with burns ranging from 30 to 65 per cent,mild range but deep. In most of them,the damage has extended through epidermis to dermis. Three quarters of the dermis is burnt,” said Dr S M Keswani,burns surgeon at National Burns Centre,Airoli.

The children were immediately shifted to the intensive burns care unit at the centre. About surgery,Dr Keswani said it was too early to say anything. “We will have to look at their progress during the three-day resuscitation phase before commenting on surgery. They are in a hypovolemic shock,an emergency condition in which severe blood and fluid loss makes the heart unable to pump enough blood to the body.”

Of the six critically-injured admitted to National Burns Centre’s ICU,four have more than 50 per cent burns.

Manisha Gore,mother of Ronit Gore (13) who suffered about 60 per cent burns,said,“I hope my son gets better soon. I will not go home without him.”

Ronit’s brother Rohan,who was also in the bus,also suffered burns but is stable at the Life Line Hospital in Panvel. Their father Arun Gore said,“We don’t even know who called us up to inform us about the incident. We just rushed here as soon as we got the news.”

Pradeep Kurungale,father of Neeraj Kurungale (8) and Ankita Kurungale (11),was holding back his tears while consoling his wife. His children suffered more than 50 per cent burns. “We have been using this bus service for the past two years. We do not know how it happened and right now we are not bothered about that. We just want to see our children fine again as soon as possible. The doctors have told us that the next 48 hours will be critical.”

Neeraj and Ankita were rushed to the MGM Hospital in Panvel after the incident,but were brought to the National Burns Centre around 10 am,after being declared critical.

Masina Hospital admitted two kids a little later,11-year-old Ria Gupte and 10-year-old Kaustub who suffered 40 per cent burns.

“She is crying in pain and calling out for her parents,but we cannot be with her for the fear of infection,” said Paritosh Gupte,Ria’s father. “Only last year did we shift her to this school and availed ourselves of this bus service as we were told it is old and reliable. This is for the first time such an incident occurred.”

The other three admitted to the National Burns Centre include Aniket Ponskhe (11),Ajinkya Dongre (14) and Ankit Mohokar (10).