In a tragic road accident, a total of 25 people including 18 school children were killed on the spot after a school bus collided head-on with a speeding truck on Thursday in Etah district of Uttar Pradesh. 50 others were injured in this mishap.
Students of JS Public School in Aliganj, all between the ages of seven and ten, were reportedly on board the bus when the accident happened. More than 30 of the 50 injured are said to be in critical condition in hospital. The bus driver died on the spot whereas the truck driver was admitted in the hospital with fatal injuries.
The eyewitnesses said that the accident took place because of poor visibility in the area.
Police said that according to a state government order, all schools should have been shut till Friday due to extreme weather conditions. A case has reportedly been filed against the JSP School for functioning despite the order.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his anguish by tweeting, “Anguished by the tragic accident in UP’s Etah district. I share the pain of the bereaved families & condole passing away of young children. I pray that those injured in the accident in Etah recover at the earliest.”