TIRUNELVELI/NAGAPATTINAM: A school girl was killed and another seriously injured after a TNSTC bus driver allegedly started the vehicle while they were boarding it near Ukkirankottai in Tirunelveli district, while a 10-year-old girl was hurt and 12 other kids escaped with minor bruises when two school vans collided in Nagapattinam district on Wednesday.
According to sources, the first incident took place around 8.30 am after V Sumathi (14) and M Saranya, both students of St Peter’s HSS in Ukkirankottai, fell down as they failed to hold the bus door handle and lost balance. Sumathi, a class IX student, died of head injuries sustained in the fall. Saranya, a class X student, who was wounded on her right leg, was taken to Tirunelveli GH. Police have detained bus driver Kannan.
In the second incident, a 10-year-old girl student was wounded and 12 other children escaped with minor injuries when a private van collided with a school van at South Poigainallur hamlet in Nagapattinam district. After the collision, the van rammed a house compound wall before coming to a halt.
According to sources, the incident happened after the driver of the private van carrying children lost control of the vehicle. Local villagers who witnessed the crash rushed to the children’s rescue.