Class 6 student dies, 12 injured as school bus plunges into rivulet in Bishnah

Mangalore Today News Network

 Jammu, Aug 10, 2016: A class 6 student was killed and 12 others injured, four of them seriously, when a rashly-driven school bus fell into a nullah (rivulet) near Bishnah in Jammu district on Wednesday morning.

 

The deceased has been identified as Khushboo, daughter of Ashok Kumar of Chakda village in Bishnah tehsil. The four critically injured students are Niharika, 5, daughter of Hardev of Smailpur Bishnah; Meena Sharma, 14, daughter of Roop Chand of Fatwal Bishnah; Nitika, 12, daughter of Papu Kumar of Bishnah and Surekha, 18, daughter of Sarwan Dass of Bishnah.

All the girls aged between 5-18 years and belonged to RKS School in Bishnah. Majority of the students suffered injuries on their heads and legs.

“Mishap occurred around 6.45 am near Kikar Morh in Chak Bana village. The bus was being driven rashly when it skidded off the road and fell into the rivulet,” said a police officer. Police further said the driver was talking on phone when the accident occurred.

The seriously injured students were hospitalised at Government Medical College and Hospital in Jammu.

Jammu deputy commissioner Simrandeep Singh said a magisterial probe had been ordered.

Sub divisional magistrate South Sonu Pargal will be conducting the probe and submit the report within 15 days.

Singh said, “There were many lapses in the case. Firstly, the bus was not registered with the authorities concerned for ferrying school children. Secondly, it was an old bus, probably 25 years old; and thirdly, it probably was carrying more children than its seating capacity.”

We are looking into the matter, he added.

The deputy commissioner said he had directed officials concerned to immediately get released compensation from the school authorities to the family of Khushboo.

“In such cases the transport department has a provision to give compensation from the passenger welfare fund. We will ensure that the family gets it,” he said.

The bus driver, whose identity has not been ascertained, has been absconding.