THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Fifteen school children and two adults had a miraculous escape on Wednesday after a school bus skittered off the road and plunged into the Mamom river at Mamom, near Attingal. All of them escaped with minor injuries although the bus, belonging to Saraswati Vidya Niketan, Valiyakunnu, fell on its side into the shallow river from a height of almost 10 feet.
The incident has brought back frightening memories of the Karikakom and Channankara school van tragedies that claimed several young lives in 2011.
At the time of Wednesday’s accident, the occupants of the bus included 15 students and a teacher besides the driver. Among them, four students and the teacher who suffered injuries and were rushed to the Chirayinkeezhu Taluk Hospital for treatment. The rest, who suffered minor injuries, were taken to another medical facility at nearby Valiyakunnu. According to the police, the bus lost control and skittered down into the narrow river.
The accident occurred while the bus was being driven down a gradient between the old bridge at Mamom and the Mamom temple around 3.30 pm. The bus was dropping off students back home after school hours.
Incidentally, the route was not a regular one used by the school bus, according to the police. The driver chose the road as the regular route was under repair. Reportedly, there were 37 students and two teachers in addition to the driver when the bus approached the spot. As the road was steep, the driver had asked some of the passengers to get down and walk.
The bus also lacked proper documentation, police officers said. The police will submit a detailed report regarding the mishap to the Regional Transport officers, seeking a detailed examination of the vehicle.