Six students dead as bus falls into canal

Sonepat, Aug 1: As many as six students drowned and four others were missing when a school bus fell into a canal at Ahulana bridge near Khubru village in the district today.

Official sources said the bodies of six students, between five and 15 years of age were recovered from the canal. They were identified as Monica, Priyanka, Ankush, Vishal, Jatinder and Manisha.

Search for the missing children is continuing. Fifteen students were saved from drowning and eight of them were admitted to a hospital later.

The bus was carrying 25 students of Sat Kumba Vrisht Public School when it fell into the canal at around 0830 hours. The driver of the bus was injured in the incident.

Immediately after the accident, district civil and police authorities rushed to the site and launched rescue operation. Army divers have been called to retrieve the missing children who are believed to have been washed away in the currents. The waters of the Western Yamuna Canal has been stopped to facilitate search for the missing children.

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has ordered a probe in the accident and announced ex-gratia relief of Rs two lakh each to the kin of the deceased children. He also announced free medical treatment will be given to those students who were admitted to the hospital.

Haryana Governor A R Kidwai and the Chief Minister have expressed shock over the accident and conveyed their sympathies to the bereaved families.

Army divers have been called to retrieve the missing students who are believed to have been washed away. Haryana Governor A R Kidwai and Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda have expressed shock over the incident and conveyed their sympathies to the bereaved families. The Chief Minister announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs two lakh each to the kith and kin of the deceased children. He also announced free medical treatment will be given to those students admitted to the hospital.

UNI