School van skids off road, kids safe

Tribune News Service

Solan, February 22

As many as 14 children of a private school travelling in a Tata Sumo (HP-63-3979) had a close shave when the vehicle skided off the road near Banalgi village and dashed against a tree in Kasauli tehsil this afternoon.

The children escaped unhurt and the villagers rushed to rescue them. The vehicle was going to Chandi village from Kuthar and was carrying students of a local private school at Banalgi when the mishap occurred.

According to locals, the mishap occurred due to rash and negligent driving by the driver. As there is no check on the plying of old worn-out vehicles by the Transport Department, rickety vehicles are being used to ferry schoolchildren in violation of the Supreme Court directions. Parwanoo DSP Yogesh Rolta said that the cause of the mishap was yet to be ascertained.