Suntikoppa: A student died and several others were injured when a bus in which they were plying turned turtle during weekend hours of Saturday, at Suntikoppa. Five, including three students and the driver, are said to be critical.
The deceased is 16-year-old Basavaraja from Genikehal. He died while he was being rushed to a hospital after the mishap.
The students and teachers of Genikehal government school near Kurugodu Taluk of Ballari district had set out on an excursion on December 25. There were 58 people, including 27 boys and 21 girls along with six teachers, one Group D employee, one driver and one cleaner in the bus.
On Friday, the group had visited KRS dam in Mysuru and was returning, when the bus turned turtle at about 11.30 pm at Shanthageri Estate gate near Suntikoppa. It is said that the driver of the bus was drunk when he left the KRS dam and on the way he slipped into sleep, causing the mishap.
The mishap left M Manjunath, K Raja, Mohammed Fayaz critically injured. They are undergoing treatment at a hospital in Madikeri. It is said that the condition of the driver Johnson as well the school cook Siddalinga is serious.
A seven-month-old toddler, daughter of school teacher Umesh, who was accompanying him has escaped the mishap unhurt.
Superintendent of Police Susan D Pannekar, DySP Muralidhar among others visited the spot.
