Bengaluru: Around a dozen schoolchildren had a narrow escape when their school bus suddenly veered off the road, jumped on to the footpath a crashed into two pedestrians in Geddalahalli on Tuesday morning. One of the injured died, while other is being treated at a government hospital.
The incident occurred around 7.45 am opposite Geddalahalli bus stand on the Hennur-Bagalur road under Banaswadi traffic police limits. The bus driver lost control of the vehicle, as he allegedly suffered convulsions and giddiness at the wheel. Two to three students suffered minor bruises and were given first-aid, while all other students were safe, the police said. The police arrested the driver, Rafil, and seized the school bus.
The two injured – Shoukath Ali, 40, and Nayaz Ali, 45, who hail from West Bengal – were walking towards their homes in Geddalahalli after doing their night shifts when the accident occurred.
The school bus was heading from Kothanur to Geddalahalli to pick up the students of Narayana E-Techno School in Chelikere, Kalyan Nagar Extension in Kammanahalli. Around 10 to 12 students were in the bus when it reached near Geddalahalli bus stop. “The bus suddenly veered off the road and went on the footpath. It rammed into a traffic signboard, hit the two security guards and then crashed into the rolling shutters of a closed shop before coming to halt, the police said quoting an eyewitness.
Passersby rushed to the help of the school students and the two pedestrians. The 2 to 3 students, who had suffered minor bruises, were given first-aid. All the children were in panic for sometime, the police said. Both Sowkath and Nayapalli were shifted to a private hospital nearby, but as both of them had suffered grievous injuries, they were referred to Nimhans and Bowring Hospital. While Sowkath was declared brought dead at Nimhans, Nayapalli is said to be in a critical condition with injuries in his left leg and head.
The 14-seater school bus, bearing registration number AP-29-V-8436, was driven by Rafil, a 19-year-old, who has a valid driving licence. The police, however, said that Rafil has health issues. Rafil, who complained of giddiness and convulsions at the time of accident, was taken by the cops for a medical examination. He was later formally arrested by the police for negligent and rash driving causing death. The school authorities are also being questioned by the police as there was no attendant in the bus.
