The driver and cleaner of the school bus, which overturned at Patratu Valley on Sunday killing eight people, are still traceless.
An FIR in this regard was lodged at Pithoria police station where the driver of the bus has been made an accused for the accident.
Eight people were killed while more than 54 others got injured when a school bus going towards Patratu for a marriage function overturned at a sharp turn near Pithoria police station in Patratu Valley on Sunday afternoon.
Meanwhile one more injured Neeraj Toppo, 25, succumbed to his injuries on Sunday night.
The driver, according to the people on board, was drunk who lost control over the vehicle resulting into the accident.
Meanwhile, following the accident, Ranchi Police have come into action and immediately directed its officials to take measures for checking overloading strictly in commercial vehicles.
“A drive is already on to check violation of traffic rules, but after Sunday’s incident, I have directed the district police to check overloading of commercial vehicles, especially in rural areas so that no untoward incident occurs in future,” said Ranchi SSP Kuldeep Dwivedi.
An FIR has been lodged against the driver and a search has already been initiated to trace him out, he added.
Meanwhile, all 52 injured people have been admitted in Surgery and Dengue wards of RIMS.
“Fifty-two people were there till morning on Monday in Dengue, Surgery, Ortho and Neuro wards, most of whom have multiple fractures and may have to stay here for a long time,” said RIMS Medical Superintendent SK Chaudhary.
Recalling the horrific Sunday, the injured persons said that the way the bus was being driven, they knew that something was going to happen.
“Initially the bus was being driven by the cleaner but when we reached near the petrol pump, the driver asked the cleaner to keep the bus aside as he would now drive the bus in the valley. But he was also driving the same way as the cleaner and suddenly used to speed up the bus making people on board afraid,” said an injured Panchu Oraon who was sitting on the roof of the bus. Even though he was warned several times by the passengers, he did not listen anybody and as soon as it reached near ‘Duar Sidhi’ the bus overturned, he added.
Another girl, who was sitting on the front seat beside the driver, also asserted that the bus at that time was driven by the driver himself after he took the steering from the cleaner before it reached the valley.
“The bus, in the beginning, was driven by the cleaner but was later taken over by the driver near the petrol pump and as soon as it reached near ‘Duar Sidhi’ it overturned on the turning point. After that I do not remember anything,” said Neha Toppo.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Ramchandra Chandravanshi visited RIMS on Monday to take stock of the situation.
“I talked to the patients and asked their well being. All arrangements have been made for the patients who are admitted here and I have also told RIMS administration to arrange medicines and blood for them,” said Chandravanshi.