During Eid-ul-Fitr, as the nation marked the conclusion of Ramadan, tragedy struck in Haryana’s Mahendragarh. A school bus collided with a tree, claiming the lives of six children and leaving twenty others injured. Following the incident, the police apprehended school principal Deepti, bus driver Dharmender, and another school official named Hoshiar Singh.
The incident occurred near Unhani Village in Kanina, Haryana, around 8:30 am. The bus was carrying forty children ranging from primary to secondary classes and belonged to GL Public School, according to reports. Modi’s Diplomatic Drive: Bridging Divides Along the China-India Border
Stating that the incident was heartrending, President Droupadi Murmu said, “The news of the death of many innocent children in a school bus accident in Mahendragarh district of Haryana is heart-rending. May God give strength to the bereaved parents and relatives to bear this cruel blow. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured children.”
हरियाणा के महेंद्रगढ़ जिले में स्कूल बस दुर्घटना में अनेक मासूम बच्चों की मृत्यु का समाचार हृदय विदारक है। ईश्वर शोक संतप्त माता-पिता एवं परिजनों को यह क्रूर आघात सहने की शक्ति प्रदान करें। मैं घायल हुए बच्चों के शीघ्र स्वस्थ होने की कामना करती हूँ।
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) April 11, 2024
PM Modi expressed his profound sorrow over the tragic bus accident in Mahendragarh, Haryana, stating, “The bus accident in Mahendragarh, Haryana is extremely painful. My condolences are with all the families who have lost their children in this accident. Along with this, I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured children. Under the supervision of the state government, the local administration is engaged in providing all possible help to the victims and their families.”
According to those present, the bus driver was allegedly intoxicated during the incident. Preliminary investigations by the police also indicate that the driver may have been under the influence of alcohol.
Eyewitnesses reported that the bus was traveling at a high speed when it crashed into a tree, causing it to overturn.
They described chaotic scenes following the accident, with children screaming and crying as they were trapped inside the overturned bus.
Some bystanders rushed to help, breaking windows to rescue the trapped children, while others called emergency services for assistance.
The eyewitnesses expressed shock and sadness at the tragic outcome of the accident, with many emphasizing the need for stricter safety measures for school buses..
Latest development about the bus accident in Haryana:
- Pradeep Kumar, an official responsible for checking vehicle documents, was immediately suspended for not doing his job properly.
- The State Transport Minister, Aseem Goel, ordered a thorough check of all school vehicles across the state after condemning the negligence of the school owners. An inquiry committee will look into every aspect of the incident.
- The transport minister also mentioned that the bus had been fined recently for not having all the necessary documents. This highlights a serious oversight on the part of the school authorities.
- There’s also criticism about the school being open on a holiday, especially Eid-ul-Fitr. The Education Minister, Seema Trikha, pointed out that this was a significant mistake. The school, along with others that stayed open against the holiday declaration, received a warning notice.
According to the police, the driver was caught from the scene of the accident and his medical examination proved that he was under the influence of alcohol. School’s principal, named Deepti and one more school official whose name is Hoshiar Singh, have also been apprehended.
