32 students injured in Sundernagar bus mishap

Our Correspondent

SUNDERNAGAR, February 17

Thirtytwo children and driver were injured when the bus of Vivekanand Public Senior Secondary School, Dehar, in which they were travelling, overturned near Dehar, 25 km from here, this morning. The police said the bus was on its way to Dehar on the Ghumarwin-Dehar road.

The victims said the accident took place due to driver’s negligence. It was around 8 am. When the bus driver tried to overtake a vehicle he lost control and the bus overturned. It fell a few feet down the road.

On reaching the information, SDM Rajeev Kumar rushed to spot along with a team of police and medical officials. Rescue operations began along with the help of local residents.

Out of 33 injured 31 were admitted to Civil Hospital Sundernagar and two were referred to the District Hospital, Bilaspur. After giving the first aid, five children were referred to the Zonal Hospital, Mandi. Those injured in the incident have been identified as Simran, Ishani, Puja, Priti, Akash, Sakshi, Abhishek, Vasudev, Gaurav, Karan, Anmol, Vishal, Shivam, Anish, Amit, Saurav, Palak, Nikhil, Neha, Manshi, Kanika, Rohit, Tamana, Subham, Nishant, Yashwant, Sheetal, Rama Devi, Ria, Rahual, Ashpita and Naresh Kumar, driver of the bus.

Tamana, Ishita and Nikhil and two others were referred to the Zonal Hospital, Mandi, for further treatment. All the injured were stated to be out of danger. By the end of day, most of them were discharged. Local MLA Sohan Lal Thakur visited the hospital and met the injured. He assured them help on behalf of the government.

DSP Sanjeev Bhatia said a case has been registered against the driver of the bus under various sections of the IPC. He was admitted in Civil Hospital, Sundernagar.

Residents of Dehar and those of the adjoining villages expressed their annoyance as the PHC, Dehar, where the injured were brought first, had negligible medical facilities and the victims had to be shifted to Sundernagar even for the first aid. They criticised the government for not providing adequate medical facilities at the health centre, Dehar.