Girl run over by school bus in Nalgonda
Nalgonda: A five-year-old girl was crushed to death by her own school bus in Nalgonda on Thursday morning. The victim, Chinthapalli Jaswitha, was studying in LKG at Master Minds School on Devarakonda Road.
Jaswitha, daughter of Saidulu and Radhika of Thoragallu village in Nalgonda mandal, had just returned to school after a week’s absence due to fever. Her mother said she had boarded her onto the bus at Thoragallu at 8 am. When the bus reached the school, Jaswitha was the last to get down. As she was walking towards the main gate, the driver reversed the bus without noticing her, and she was crushed under the rear wheel. She died on the spot.
Nalgonda Town-I inspector Y. Rajasekhar said a case was registered on the basis of the parents’ complaint. The driver was taken into custody, and all those found responsible will be included as accused.
District education officer Bollaram Bixapathi said negligence by the school management and bus driver caused the tragedy. He pointed out that private schools had earlier been instructed to provide safety training to drivers and employ only skilled staff. He assured action against the school management under relevant rules.
The incident sparked protests by student unions ABVP, SFI and PDSU, who staged a dharna in front of the school. They alleged negligence by both the school and the authorities, including the education and road transport departments, in monitoring school bus operations. As tension rose, police took several student leaders into custody and shifted them to Nalgonda Town-I police station.
