Six children died and over 20 were injured when a schoolbus rammed a tree and overturned in Haryana's Mahendragarh on Thursday morning. The driver is believed to have been drunk, say the police.
The bus, carrying students from Class 4 to 10, belonged to GL Public School, which was functioning despite a holiday for Eid-ul-Fitr, officials said.
Hours after the accident, schoolbags and bottles were seen scattered at the site of the crash, remains of an unspeakable tragedy on a day the children should have been at home for the Eid festival.
According to the district administration, 12 injured students have been admitted to a local hospital while two others, who are said to be in a critical condition, have been moved to a Rohtak hospital.
Police sources say the bus's driver jumped out of the speeding vehicle after losing control of it and it rammed a tree. He may have been drunk, they added.
"We are investigating the drink driving claims and have conducted a medical test on the driver. The bus's fitness certificate was not renewed," senior police officer Arsh Verma told NDTV. Official documents show that the bus's fitness certificate had expired six years ago in 2018.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the deaths of the schoolchildren. "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," he wrote on X.
The parents of one of the students were also injured after their bike crashed while they were on the way to the accident site. While the student's mother suffered a fracture in her leg, her younger sister died in the crash.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini said the local administration was helping the injured. "I am saddened by the school bus accident in Kanina, Mahendragarh. My condolences are with the bereaved families who have lost their innocent children. The local administration is ready to help the injured. I wish all the injured a speedy recovery," he said in post on X.
State Education Minister Seema Trikha said an inquiry is being conducted to find out why the school was functioning on a holiday. Police are also questioning the school authorities over the accident.