KANNUR: A 10-year-old girl student died and 19 others, aged between 4 and 11 years, suffered injuries when their school bus overturned at Valakkai near Chengalayi in Kannur district on Wednesday.
The accident occurred around 4.15pm when the bus belonging to Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Kurumathur, was taking students back home. The deceased has been identified as Class V student Nedhya S Rajesh, daughter of Rajesh from Chorukkala in Kannur.
According to locals who rushed to the spot and started rescue operations, the girl who was sitting in the front seat was thrown out of the vehicle and got trapped under it as it overturned. She was rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors declared her brought dead. Her body was shifted to the Pariyaram Govt Medical College Hospital mortuary.
The condition of another student, who was shifted to Pariyaram MCH after sustaining critical head injuries, is critical.
All other 18 students were taken to the Thaliparamba govt hospital and their condition is stable, sources said. Driver and school aaya also suffered minor injuries in the incident and they sought treatment.
The accident happened near the Valakkai bridge near Taliparamba-Iritty state highway. The bus was proceeding on the Kirath-Valakkai route – a road having a sharp slope and bend. The driver reportedly lost control of the bus while giving way to another vehicle just before entering the highway, following which the bus toppled multiple times.
Sreekandapuram police have registered a case and launched an investigation to determine the exact reason for the accident. Police suspect speeding and brake failure might have caused the accident.
