‘Balrath’ falls into ditch in Cuncolim, 22 students injured

Margao: A Balrath bus carrying 27 students from Khadem to United High School, Cuncolim, veered off the road at Bally on Thursday morning and fell into a ditch. The accident reportedly occurred due to blocking of the steering wheel of the bus. A total of 22 out of 27 students on board the plane were injured.

The school bus driver has been punished for careless driving.

Residents said the children, aged between 11 and 17, started screaming in fear when the bus rolled into a low-lying area 10 feet below the road and turned into a turtle, trapping them.

Local residents along with the conductor, cleaner and assistant successfully rescued all the students from the bus. The 22 students killed were taken to Bally Health Center in 108 ambulances.

18 of them received treatment at Bally Health Center and later complained of high blood pressure. Four students were sent to the South Goa district hospital in Margao to receive additional medical attention.