Six killed as school van falls into river

At least six people, including three schoolchildren, were killed when the van they were travelling in fell into a river in spate in Karnataka's coastal town of Mangalore.

At least six people, including three schoolchildren, were killed when the van they were travelling in fell into a river in spate in Karnataka's coastal town of Mangalore on Thursday, police said.

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More than 30 people, most of them children, were in the school van when the driver lost control of the vehicle, which plunged into the Phalguni river.

AM Prasad, inspector general of police (western range), told reporters that over 14 people had been rescued and admitted to hospitals in Mangalore.

Heavy rain was hampering the rescue operation, he added.

As bus operators in Mangalore and nearby areas were on strike, several women not connected with the school were also in the van, police said.

Hundreds of locals rushed to the accident site and were helping in the search for those missing.