Hooda orders probe into school bus tragedy

Chandigarh, Aug 1 (UNI) Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has ordered an inquiry into the school bus tragedy in Sonepat district wherein six students were drowned today.

Mr Hooda also announced an ex-gratia grant of Rs two lakh each to the next of the kin of those who died in the incident. He ordered the district administration to provide free medical treatment to the injured.

The Chief Minister visited Balikutubpur village where the incident occurred and expressed his condolences to the members of the bereaved families.

The Chief Minister told the villagers that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi had expressed their ''deep shock and grief on this heart-rending incident.'' The incident occurred this morning when a bus carrying students of Satkumba Varishth Public School of Kheri Gujjar village in Sonipat district fell into Western Jamuna Canal at Ahulana bridge near Khubaru village.

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