12 hurt as school bus turns turtle, probe ordered in Darsi

Darsi: The bus belonging to SVR School in Darsi turned upside down in a canal beside road en-route to school after picking up the students on Thursday morning. The passersby rescued the students and driver from the bus and found that 12 students and a driver were injured in the accident.

According to the in-charge Sub-Inspector of Police S Nagaraju, the SVR School Bus reached Veerayyapalem around 7 AM and was returning to Darsi with nearly 20 students.

The bus driver Ramana observed that the steering wheel was stuck in between the Veerayyapalem and Chintalapalem and tried to free it by force, resulting in the vehicle plunge suddenly on the left side.

He was claiming to have applied brakes but they were not cooperative at that moment and the bus jumped into the canal flowing parallel to the road and subsequently turned turtle. A couple behind the bus immediately jumped into action and brought the children and driver out of the bus before they could be drowned in the canal.

A passersby informed the ambulance and it shifted the 12 injured students and the driver Ramana to the community health center in Darsi for treatment. The police suspect that the bus didn't have fitness and registered a case of negligent driving before starting the investigation.

Transport Minister Perni Venkataramaiah responded over the school bus accident and ordered the transport department officials to conduct a detailed inquiry on the incident.

He enquired about the condition of the students and ordered the local officials to provide all medical help required to them. He warned all school managements that the department would initiate stringent action if the school buses lack fitness as per the guidelines.