One student was killed and another injured after the dormitory of EAV Rushashi, an agro-veterinary school in Gakenke District, caught fire in the early hours of Saturday, January 20, it emerges.

An electrical short circuit is suspected to be the cause of the fire that gutted a room in which 20 students were sleeping, District officials told the media.

ALSO READ: Are schools ready to deal with fire outbreaks?

The 21-year-old student who lost his life was in senior five.

The one who sustained injuries and was rushed to Ruli health centre for treatment was reportedly trampled upon by other students as they ran out of the dormitory.

"We are saddened by the death of a senior-five student at EAV Rushashi who was killed by the fire outbreak that caught the school dormitory,” the Ministry of Education said on X on Saturday.

"We comfort his family, relatives, friends and the larger family of EAV Rushashi.”

The Ministry said it would remain close to the family and the school.

ALSO READ: Fire guts another Ruhango school dormitory

The fire was put out by the Police Fire Brigade before it caused further damage, according to local authorities.

The exact amount of damage caused by the fire is not yet known. Investigations begun to find the cause of the fire outbreak.