GHAZIABAD: There was a minor fire at the Well-Being Institute For Learning , a school for special needs children in Gyan Khand 1, Indirapuram, setting off panic among staff members on Friday morning. The fire was triggered by a short circuit owing to an overload stemming from excessive use of airconditioners and other electrical appliances on the school premises.The fire took place around 11.45pm, when more than 100 differently abled children were present inside the school premises.The fire broke out in the electricity meter box on the ground floor of the building and the fire brigade was informed immediately. However, no one was reported injured in the fire nor was there any loss of property.A staff member, who wished to remain anonymous, told TOI that since the kids were suffering from some mental and physical impairments, they were much more slower in their reactions and walking."The kids were in a state of shock for a long time but suddenly realised the gravity of the situation and broke down. Since the short circuit had happened in the electrical panel under the staircase, many kids who were on the first floor and second floor were rescued from the adjacent building's terrace because they couldn't have been brought down to the ground floor because of their slow reactions and the thick cloud of smoke."A R Sharma, chief fire officer, Vaishali, said, "We got a phone call from the school management around noon, informing us about the incident. We rushed two fire engines to the spot and the flames were soon put out."According to police officers, the electricity meter box was left open without its cover, which resulted in smoke reaching the first and the second floors of the school building, that further led to panic among the staff and students.Eight to 10 firefighters, assisted by members of the school's security staff, rescued the more than 100 children from both the floors in about 40 mnutes."The teachers panicked and the children started crying after looking at the smoke that spread quickly because the door of the meter box was left ajar. Even though the fire was minor, the rescue operation was challenging because the trapped were children with special needs. They walk a little differently and their reflexes are a bit slower," Sharma said.When asked about the fire safety equipment present in the school, Sharma said, "The school's fire alarm was working pretty fine and they also had fire extinguishers, but they were not enough to tackle the blaze."

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