Schoolgirl dead, 35 hurt in HP bus crash

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, March 3

A six-year-old girl was killed and 34 children injured along with a teacher when their school bus fell into a 135-feet gorge at Banethi village, 18 km from Nahan, in Himachal today.

The Shijra Public School bus (HP-71-4833), being driven by school owner and principal Rajinder Singh, was on its way to drop children around 1pm when the accident took place. Singh, who was learning driving, often drove the bus when the driver was on leave. Though he fled the spot after the mishap, he was arrested in the evening and a case under sections 279, 337 and 304-A of the IPC was registered against him.

Regional Transport Officer Sunil Sharma said a Public Service Vehicle licence was required to drive a bus. “Action will be taken against the principal after verifying his driving licence.”

Sanjana was declared dead on arrival at the Nahan regional hospital, while two others — Rajat (9) and Ayush (10) — were referred to the PGIMER, Chandigarh, as their condition was stated to be serious. Physical education teacher Ram Swarup was also admitted to the regional hospital.

Sirmaur Deputy Commissioner Ritesh Chauhan and Superintendent of Police Balbir Singh visited the injured in the hospital. A sum of Rs 50,000 was extended as immediate financial aid to the family of the deceased, Rs 9,000 each for the two seriously injured and Rs 72,000 for the rest.

The Regional Transport Officer said issues such as presence of a conductor, locking of doors, proper permit and licences are checked in school buses regularly but it was the first case where a principal had been found driving a school bus.

The SP said though the principal did not appear to be drunk, a medical examination would be conducted to confirm it. The DC ordered a magisterial inquiry into the case and Nahan SDM Dipti Kapoor has been asked to complete it within 15 days.