BENGALURU: SHOCK, anxiety and uncertainty had overwhelmed the parents of the children who suffered injuries after their school bus crashed into another bus near Kanakapura here on Thursday. A pall of gloom also hung heavy as one of the children in the bus, Charan, died in the accident. Rumours that two more deaths had occurred only added to everyone’s worries.
The seriously injured children were immediately rushed to Nimhans with the parents in tow. Pushpa, an aunt of one of the boys, Sharath, was aghast when she was misinformed that Sharath had died. Luckily, it was not the case. Regarding her other nephew Hitesh, she said, “The poor boy’s face is injured so badly I could not bear to see him.”
By Thursday night, five children were admitted to Victoria Hospital, with their parents and relatives by their sides. Most of the children had suffered wounds on their faces, and doctors informed the parents that at least three of them would require plastic surgery.
Six-year-old Hitesh Gowda had suffered the most serious injuries, his face covered with wounds caused by glass shards. His father Mahadev, a farmer, was sitting beside him at the hospital, hoping that he would regain consciousness. “He has not opened his eyes even once after the accident, and doctors said his eyesight may be affected,” said a visibly anxious Mahadev. Hitesh will undergo plastic surgery on Friday. Mahadev’s younger son Sharath was also admitted to the hospital, but his injuries were relatively minor.
Mahadev blamed both the bus driver Danappa and the school authorities for the accident. He alleged that the driver did not have a driving licence and, quoting a Class 7 student who was on the bus, said Danappa was speaking on the phone while driving. He said the school bus was over 20 years old and several parents had asked school authorities to change it.
Shilpa’s two children were also on the bus. Deepu (8) had bandages on his face and will undergo surgery on Friday while her other son Chandra escaped with minor injuries and was take back to the village.
The Ramanagara deputy commissioner visited the children at the hospital and spoke to the parents in the evening.