Close shave for 20 students as bus overturns into drain in Patiala

A private school bus skidded off the road and overturned into a drain near Duladdi village in Nabha today. Around 20 students travelling in it were safely rescued. The accident occurred in the morning while the children were being ferried to school. Residents of the nearby village and commuters rushed to the spot. Soon, the school staff and the police also arrived at the scene.

A student who was travelling in the bus said it overturned as the driver tried to avoid a collision with another vehicle coming from the opposite direction. The driver broke a window and the children came out safely.

The school staff, who arrived at the scene, said they reached the spot as soon as they were informed about the accident. Gurmeet Singh, officer in charge of the Seetanwala police post, said they were investigating the matter and take action accordingly.

On May 7, a private vehicle (a Toyota Innova) ferrying students from Bhupindra International School collided head-on with a sand-laden truck near Nassupur village on the Patiala-Samana Road. Seven schoolchildren and the bus driver were killed in the accident. —TNS