Nine schoolchildren sustained injuries when a bus and a van — both carrying students — collided in Alipur on Saturday morning.The Outer District accident left seven children of the school van hurt, with one sustaining a fracture. The errant school bus driver, Nitin (25), was arrested and a case of negligent driving registered against him.
According to sources, he was over-speeding. "The children are lucky to have escaped with minor injuries," a police official said. A senior police officer said, "Around 7 am, the bus carrying 15 children from Rana Model School collided with a Maruti van carrying seven children of St John's School at the B-4 Narela crossing."
A passerby called the police control room and the children were taken to a nearby hospital. They were discharged after first aid. All children were eight to ten years old. "The accident left two children in the minibus and seven from the Van hurt. The van’s driver, Dharambeer (32), was also injured," the police officer added.
Such incidents have become all too common and highlight the need for stern monitoring of vehicles transporting children. Parents are deeply concerned about the safety of their children and many drivers of school buses and vans have been found to be driving recklessly, under the influence of alcohol or without proper papers. School authorities need to to make more strenuous efforts to keep track of such staff.