Chhattisgarh accident: School bus carrying 18 children plunges into river

RAIPUR: A private school bus carrying over 18 children on board, fell into Son river after the driver lost balance on steering in Sakti district of Chhattisgarh on Wednesday. The bus full of school children was headed towards school in the Pisod region in Hasod when it was crossing a small bridge and it suddenly fell in the river.

Fortunately, there were many locals having baths and washing clothes on the banks of the river, who swiftly swam towards the bus and rushed a rescue operation. The kids were in panic mode and were loaded with school bags in the water. Many of them were feared to have gulped water but were somehow fished out with the help of villagers.

The swiftness of four-five villagers saved 18 little lives.

Speaking to TOI, Sakti SP Ankita Sharma said that the police team reached the spot within four minutes of the accident and the police with the help of villagers rescued all the children.

“By God’s grace all 18 kids were safe. Police and administration are looking into the cause of the accident, though a fitness test for all school vehicles was done in July, we will repeat the exercise. All the principals are now being instructed to personally do the physical verification of the school vehicles.”

It was a mini school bus that was crossing an anicut through a small narrow bridge often built to cross the waterbody. According to preliminary reports, the steering of the bus failed suddenly, leading to the vehicle falling in water.

As soon as the bus fell, the villagers, washing clothes, dived into the water with the first thought of saving children before the bus plunged deep in water. Fortunately, the bus was floating very close to the bridge and locals fished out children one by one and passed on to each other to be safely put on the bridge, which has a very low height.

The video of the bus immersed in a huge waterbody sends shivers imagining that it had children on board a few moments back.

The kids were rushed to hospital and they were provided with primary treatment.

The school management is yet to issue a statement of accountability.


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