A tragic road accident occurred early on Monday in Kondagaon district, Bastar region, Chhattisgarh, when a private bus carrying school children collided with a truck. The accident claimed the lives of a government school teacher and the bus driver, while several children were injured. The bus was on its return journey from an excursion when the collision happened around 2 am near Chikalputi village on National Highway 30.
The bus, which was hired by the Kevat Tola Government School in Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district, had 53 people onboard, including teachers and students from classes 6, 7, and 8. After a day-long excursion to Dantewada, Barsoor, and Chitrakote, the bus was traveling back to Mohla when the crash occurred. The incident left four children in critical condition, who were shifted to Raipur for better treatment. Another 22 children received primary treatment at Kondagaon district hospital.
Kondagaon police have filed a case of ‘death by negligence’ as initial investigations suggest the driver might have fallen asleep at the wheel due to fatigue. The Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Vishnu Deo Sai, expressed his condolences and instructed officials to ensure that the injured receive better medical care.
The bus journey, which lasted over 8 to 10 hours, is under scrutiny, with concerns about the safety of long-distance travel for school children on overnight excursions. Local authorities are looking into the incident, and the families of the children are being supported as they cope with the traumatic event.
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