School fire: Supervisor arrested, 2 children discharged from hospital

Most patients are stable; doctors say many would be discharged soon.

LAHORE:

Shahdara Town police have arrested an administrator of the school where a fire on Thursday injured 22 children and their teacher. 

Two of the children were discharged on Friday while 20 remained at the Mayo Hospital.

The teacher, Maryam, was shifted from emergency ward to the West Surgical.

Duty doctors told The Express Tribune that the patients’ condition was stable. They said many children would be discharged in two or three days.



They said six to seven children who had sustained severe burns would be discharged in seven to ten days.

The hospital wards where the children are being treated had been decorated with flowers brought by visitors. Children’s parents, relatives and friends were also bringing in sweets and chocolates.

Zainab, 7, said she had run from one corner of the classroom to another when the fire broke out. She said her teacher tried to put down the flames and protected the children.

Rukhsana, a mother of one of the children, expressed her satisfaction with the way the doctors were making sure the children remained free of infection.

Shahdara police station investigation officer Jameel Dogar told The Express Tribune that police had arrested a school supervisor Muhammad Ashraf. He said the two other accused including Admin Officer School Amar Hussain and Director School Chaudhry Shaukat would also be arrested soon.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 23^rd, 2013.