Wednesday, July 20 2005 15:06 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Srinagar: Hundreds of students of popular missionary school, Burnhall, today (July 20, 2005) had a close shave as they had moved into their classrooms minutes before the massive car-bomb blast outside the premises, official sources said.

Three army jawans and two persons were killed and 17 persons injured, when a suspected suicide-bomber rammed an explosive-laden Maruti car into an army vehicle just outside the school on Church land road, sources said.

The students had a narrow escape, as there is a vast playfield between the boundary wall of the school and the building housing the classrooms.

Most of window panes of the school were shattered due to impact of the blast that shook the building instilling a sense of fear among the children who huddled in a corner of the classrooms, a teacher said.

As the news of blast spread, anxious parents converged on the school with many of them, mostly women, weeping, as the security forces did not initially allow them into the school, which has been closed.

"I just want to see my son and take him home," said a panic-stricken Fahmeeda with tears rolling down her cheeks.

An hour later relieved parents could be seen coming out from the school premises from the Gupkar road end of the school.