Apr 16 2008
School bus falls in Narmada in Gujrat, 44 dead!
A school bus carrying more than 50 students of class 5th to 11th from Tarpod village fell into the Narmada canal in Bodeli in Vadodra, Gujrat while going for a study tour at around 6 am today. The accident killed around 44 children including the bus driver.
“The driver seems to have lost control and the bus broke through a protective railing, plunging it into the canal,” a police official said.
Fire brigades were rushed to the spot as soon as the accident happened. About 20 divers were engaged in the operation who recovered around 44 bodies including the driver. Only four children were rescued.
“Forty-four bodies, most of them of children, have so far been fished out from the canal,” DSP Vadodara (Rural) Amit Vishwkarama said.
The locals, who saw the incident happening, informed the police immediately and helped the victims. Nearby villagers helped in the operation. The water released into the canal through the Sardar Sarovar Dam was also stopped to aid the rescue operations.
Senior officials including the Collector and the DSP were at the spot to oversee the rescue operations. Officials said the bodies have been sent for post-postmortem.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has announced a compensation of Rs one lakh to the families of the victims.
