‘Intoxicated’ driver rams school bus into footpath

Tribune News Service

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Bathinda, November 29

Students of Delhi Public School today had a narrow escape as the bus they were travelling in met with an accident. The driver of the bus confessed to be driving under the influence of some habit-forming substance.

The incident occurred on the Gillpatti-Sivian road this afternoon when the students were going to their homes.

The driver lost control of the vehicle and rammed it into a footpath. All students and the driver escaped unhurt.

Onlookers and residents of the village helped the students get out of the bus and contact their parents.

While talking to the villagers, the driver confessed to have consumed “two tablets, but for the first time” in the afternoon. The conversation was also recorded by the villagers.

Taking cognizance of the accident, the school authorities fired the driver with immediate effect.

School principal Arun Jee said, “The driver had joined recently. In fact, he had met the transport in-charge of the school in the afternoon. We are not sure whether he suffered an epilepsy attack or was driving under the influence of drugs. We have sacked him.”

Baljit Singh, an eyewitness, said, “We made the students sit on the premises of Gurmat Vidyalaya, which is on the same road. We sat with them till the time their parents came and picked them up. The driver was clearly under the influence of drugs and he was slurring his words. Some of the villagers took him to a local doctor and there, he confessed that he had consumed a habit-forming substance.”