13 kids, 3 others hurt as truck rams into school bus in Jhajjar
ROHTAK: At least 13 kids were injured after their school van was hit by a truck from behind in Jhajjar on Monday morning. The incident on Jhajjar-Rewari road near Silana village when the school van of Deep Chand Public School allegedly entered the NH-71 from a smaller road without looking and the truck coming from behind rammed into it.
The school van had stuffed at least 15 children in eight seats. After the collision, the truck skidded off the road and fell in a pit and overturned, injuring its driver and two others.
The police have registered a case against the school van driver on charges of rash driving and endangering the lives of others (Sections 279 and 337 of the Indian Penal Code) based on the complaint by injured truck driver.
The injured were rushed to the civil hospital where three kids were discharged after primary care. Some others received injuries in their head and fractured their hand. As per police, all the students were between Classes 1 and 8 and were out of danger.
When questioned about the school van flouting rules by running over capacity, the principal of the school, Bijender Sehwag, who had reached the hospital, maintained that only eight students were seated in the van. He was, however, contradicted by the police and hospital authorities who said that the number of injured kids was 13.
Meanwhile, Jhajjar district education officer (DEO) Satbir Singh, who also reached the hospital to take stock of the injured, said he will launch an inquiry and take action against the school if found flouting safety norms. “We have provided safety guidelines to all government and private schools. But still some of them don’t follow the guidelines,” he said.
SCHOOL VAN DRIVER ENTERED NH71 SUDDENLY WITHOUT GIVING A SIGNAL, BOOKED