At least 13 people, including 12 schoolchildren, died while 35 others were injured when a bus collided with a truck at Aliganj in Uttar Pradesh's Etah district on Thursday, January 19. Around 60 students were travelling in the bus, whose driver was also killed in the accident.
The collision apparently took place when the truck swerved in an attempt to save two children who were riding a bicycle on Aliganj Patiali Road in Asadpur village, Inspector Rahul Srivastav, additional superintendent of police (ASP) and PRO to the DGP, told International Business Times, India. He added that the truck could not see the bus coming from the other direction due to poor visibility as a result of fog.
The bus driver also lost his life, while the driver of the truck lost both his legs and is currently undergoing treatment, Srivastav further added. Out of the 35 children injured, 24 have been discharged and sent back home, while 11 are still undergoing treatment. Two of them are in a critical condition.
Some of the injured were rushed to the Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences in Saifai. A few of the injured have also been sent to Agra Medical College and the district hospital in Etah. All the children were students of JS Vidya Niketan School in Aliganj.
Some media reports in the morning had said that the death toll was at 25. However, Srivastav squashed all reports saying that there was some confusion in the morning since children were seriously injured and there was blood all over. But, after proper investigation and examination, it was found that 13 schoolchildren died while the rest were injured.
Srivastav further told IBTimes, India that the school flouted the orders of the district magistrate who had clearly instructed that all schools be shut till January 20 due to harsh weather.Therefore, "an FIR has been registered against the owners of the school and strict action will be taken against them. Their registration has also been cancelled," the ASP said.
Srivastav also said that a state-wide inspection of schools and educational institutions will be carried out to determine whether they are abiding by the rules of the district magistrate. The licenses and other papers of the drivers, speeding limits, overtaking of vehicles will be checked. The authorities will also check whether the vehicles running on LPG are certified or not.
When asked whether a teacher or an adult accompanied the students in the bus as per the rules, Srivastav told IBTimes India that "there was probably no teacher or adult in the bus to check on the students which is why this state-wide inspection is being carried out."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took to Twitter to express his grief and condole the death of the schoolchildren.
Anguished by the tragic accident in UP's Etah district. I share the pain of the bereaved families & condole passing away of young children.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 19, 2017
I pray that those injured in the accident in Etah recover at the earliest. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 19, 2017
Home Minister Rajnath Singh also offered condolences and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
Deeply saddening to learn of the loss of many precious lives in a road accident in Etah district of Uttar Pradesh, this morning.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) January 19, 2017
My heart goes out to the families of those children who lost their lives in this tragedy. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. — Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) January 19, 2017
