Road Accident Kills 6 Children; Many Injured
Patna: Dec. 13, 2007
In a very tragic turn of event, six school children and two adults died when their Marshall jeep leading other school vehicles was hit head on by a speeding truck on National Highway 82 while returning from a school picnic in Bodh Gaya on Thursday evening, officials in Patna said.
As reported, nearly 85 students belonging to the Saraswati Shishu Mandir of Bakhtiarpur ranging between age 7 and 16 were returning to Bakhtiarpur after visiting Rajgir and Bodh Gaya when a speeding truck, near the Kewali village under Wazirganj police station, coming from the opposite direction slammed into the leading school vehicle killing six students and two school staff on the spot, including the Marshall driver.
Besides the school Principal Ramakant Kumar, 15 students who received injuries were rushed to the Anugrah Narayan Magadh Medical College where four remain in very critical condition, Nawada Superintendent of Police (SP) A. K. Jain said.
Upon hearing of the tragedy, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed his grief and announced Rs. 1 lakh for the family of each victim. Patna District Magistrate Dr. B. Rajendra will hand over the check to the victim's family on Friday.
The Chief Minister also directed the officials to ensure all the victims received free medical care at any hospital as long as they needed such assistance.
The police has seized the truck though the truck driver and his assistance managed to escape before the arrival of the police.
Students and staff who were lucky enough to escape any injury were taken to Bakhtiarpur in a different vehicle under full police protection.
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