Pregnant woman dies as bus rams into her

MUMBAI: A nine-month pregnant woman was killed and four others, including two teenagers, were injured when the driver of a school bus lost control of the vehicle and rammed into the victims outside their homes in Bhayander (W) early on Tuesday. The driver who was allegedly drunk was arrested.
According to the Bhayander police, Manisha Patwardan (21) was due for delivery on Thursday.After dinner on Monday night, she was chatting with her sister-in-law Jayshree Patwardan (23) and neighbour Anjali Kandravel (42) outside their Ambedkar Nagar hutment. Two boys from the locality Salman Shah and Asif Shah, both 15, were also chatting on the roadside. Around 12.10am, the driver of a minibus belonging to National High School at Mira Road lost control of the vehicle and rammed into the victims before hitting a tree. Manisha, who was standing near the road, died on the spot.
Jayshree, Anjali and Asif fractured their legs and are being treated at a local hospital. Salman was treated for minor bruises.
The driver, identified as Murugan Atijan (27), a resident of Anna Nagar in Bhayander (W) fled from the spot. Locals pelted stones at the bus till the police arrived. Eye-witnesses said that Atijan was giving driving lessons to an unidentified man when the accident took place.
Manisha’s unborn child weighed around 3.5 kg. The victim’s husband Pramod, a daily wage labourer, refused to accept the bodies of Manisha and the baby till the driver was arrested late on Tuesday from his residence. He has been booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder (Section 304 (a) IPC). Police said Atiyan was drunk when he was arrested. His blood samples have been sent for testing.
The police will also question the school authorities as to how the bus was in the driver’s possession after school hours. The police are ascertaining whether the bus is owned by the school or hired on contract basis.