A Class 4 student of St Joseph’s School, Sector 44, Chandigarh, was killed, while his sister and two other students were injured, after a Punjab Roadways bus rammed into their school bus on the Kharar-Morinda road on Monday morning.
“Due to the overnight showers, the road became slippery, not allowing the Roadways driver to stop the bus in time,” said investigating officer, assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Sukhwinder Singh. “The impact of the collision caused shards of windowpane to slit the boy’s throat and hurt his head, killing him on the spot.”
The deceased has been identified as Samarth Sachdeva, 10. His sister, Khwaish Sachdeva, 13, received three stitches on the right ear, while Aayushi Rana, 9, received minor injuries. Another student Aarav, who sustained injuries on the head, was referred to Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, officials at the Kharar civil hospital said.
The students were on way for their examinations when the accident took place. The bus was ferrying around 10 children.
Police said the school bus driver, Dharminder Sharma, put out his hand and signalled before taking a right turn from the highway into a street to pick up two students from GBP Society, Kharar, around 7:15am. But, Balbir Singh, the driver of the Punjab Roadways bus, who was coming from the opposite side of the road, could not brake in time and rammed his vehicle into the rear of the school bus. Balbir fled leaving his vehicle behind.
{{/usCountry}}Police said the school bus driver, Dharminder Sharma, put out his hand and signalled before taking a right turn from the highway into a street to pick up two students from GBP Society, Kharar, around 7:15am. But, Balbir Singh, the driver of the Punjab Roadways bus, who was coming from the opposite side of the road, could not brake in time and rammed his vehicle into the rear of the school bus. Balbir fled leaving his vehicle behind.
{{/usCountry}}Onlookers said the Punjab Roadways bus was full to its capacity, but its passengers escaped unhurt. After the accident, some of them stepped out and beat up the school bus driver for his alleged negligence, leaving him with minor injuries.
A case under Section 304A (causing death by negligence), 279 (rash driving ) and 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered against Balbir Singh, who is absconding.