Former Chief Minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal (centre) with Amandeep Kaur (right) in Longowal on Sunday. Tribune Photo
Parvesh Sharma
Tribune News Service
Sangrur, February 16
Class VII student Amandeep Kaur (14), who managed to rescue seven children from a burning school van, is still in shock. The screams of four children engulfed in flames are still haunting her.
I first tried to open a window, but failed. Then I found an iron object with which I broke the windowpane and jumped out. Then I pulled out four children. With the help of some passersby, we rescued three more kids.
Amandeep Kaur, Class VII student
For close to two minutes, she battled the flames, broke open a window and saved her schoolmates. At her home in Longowal’s Pindi Amar Singh Wala, she is finding it difficult regain her composure.
Her family says she did not sleep all night and kept crying.
“When we sat inside the van, I sensed something was wrong. I could smell petrol. Maybe it was leaking. I informed (van driver) Dalbir sir, but he did not pay heed. When the van came out of school premises and reached the main road, it started making a wired noise. Dalbir sir stopped the van and alighted from it, asking us to remain seated,” Amandeep says, tears welling up in her eyes.
As Dalbir got off, the bus caught fire. “I first tried to open the widows, but when could not, I started searching for something with which I could break the windows. Luckily, I found an iron object. On breaking a window, I jumped off and then pulled out four children. With the help of some passersby, we rescued three more children,” Amandeep says.
Somehow, the windows got jammed and they could not rescue Aradhya (5), Simranjit Singh (5) and his cousins Kamalpreet Kaur (5) and Navjot Kaur (4).
“They were screaming for help, but in spite of our best efforts, we could not save them. Whenever I close my eyes, the scene of the burning van comes in front of me. I still hear their screams,” she says.
Sangrur Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori said he had written to the CMand recommended Amandeep’s name for a bravery award.
CM commends her
Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Sunday commended Amandeep for rescuing children from the burning school van in Longowal. “I salute the extraordinary bravery and valour of Amandeep Kaur who risked her life to put out the fire and rescued four children from the burning van. I am so proud of you. I am looking forward to meeting you,” he said.