On Wednesday morning, 20 young children were killed and 30 others seriously injured after a bus collided with a truck in Uttar Pradesh’s Etah. The school bus driver was among the dead. Eyewitness said the accident happened due to poor visibility in the area.
The truck was sppeding when the head-on collision took place in Aliganj town. The bus was carrying nearly 60 students of JS Vidya School. The children on the bus were junior school students between 7 and 10 years old.
The school is likely to face actions as it was opened even after the administration had announced three days of holidays due to cold. Commenting on the incident, UP DGP Javeed Ahmad said, “The school was open against the order of district administration to close schools due to cold.” He assured of strict action against the school administration. An investigation has been ordered.
Though according to PTI, police put the number of school children killed in the accident at 10, Javeed Hameed, DGP, Uttar Pradesh, said in a tweet that around 15 children are feared dead in the accident. The actual number of children killed in the accident, however, could be higher. According to an India Todayreport, the number of children killed in the accident could be as high as 25.
Rescue of the injured was underway, said Ahmed in a tweet. Many of the injured have been referred to Agra for better treatment. Ahmed earlier said, “Priority is to rescue trapped children, rescue operation is underway.”
Expressing pain over the incident and loss of young lives, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on twitter. He also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
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
Latest information said that all the children have been rescued from the bus and the injured were taken to district hospital. 16 children, who were seriously injured, were transferred to a specialized government hospital in Aligarh. “Many children are seriously injured,” said senior police officer Daljeet Chaudhary. He added: “We will take action if anyone found at fault.”
Home Minister Rajnath Singh also expressed sorrow over twitter.
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
UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has expressed anguish at the death of the children and asked all district officials to go to the spot and ensure that the best possible medical care is given to the injured children.
