ISLAMABAD: At least 17 children and a teacher were burned to death in eastern Pakistan’s Gujrat region on Saturday when a faulty gas cylinder exploded on the bus taking them to school.

Police officer Mohammed Rasheed said seven children were also injured in the explosion on the outskirts of the city of Gujrat.

''This is a very sad incident. According to our information, at least 17 children were burned to death,'' he said.

''The school bus caught fire after the blast. We have transported all the victims to a nearby hospital.''

Gujrat is about 200 kilometres southeast of Islamabad.