Garhwal Post Bureau
RISHIKESH, 14 Nov: A major accident was averted in Rishikesh on Saturday morning when a bus carrying school students from Firozabad lost control and crashed into a roadside wall near the PWD Tiraaha in Muni Ki Reti. Three persons, including the driver, helper and the school’s principal, sustained injuries in the incident, while all the students on board were rescued safely.
According to police, the bus was carrying around 30 passengers, including students and teachers from Pandit Tilak Bhanu Senior Secondary School, Firozabad, who were on their way to the Laxman Jhula area for sightseeing and a holy dip. The accident occurred at around 9.40 am when bus number UP 83 AT 8300 reportedly suffered a brake failure near the PWD Tiraaha, causing the vehicle to go out of control and collide with a wall along the roadside.
The collision led to panic among those travelling in the bus. On receiving information about the incident, the Muni Ki Reti police team rushed to the spot and launched a rescue operation. The students were evacuated safely and shifted away from the accident site. Police said that driver Jayprakash, helper Avdhesh and principal Rajni Saraswat sustained minor injuries and were taken to hospital, where they received first aid treatment.
SSI Yogesh Pandey of Muni Ki Reti police said that the team reached the location immediately after receiving the alert and ensured the safe evacuation of all children. To avoid inconvenience to the students after the accident, arrangements were made for their stay and refreshments at Madhuban Ashram. The Police officials also coordinated with teachers to ensure the safety and well-being of the children.
The incident has also drawn attention to concerns regarding the vehicle’s occupancy. Officials said that earlier, ARTO Rashmi Pant had intercepted the bus for carrying passengers beyond its permitted capacity. During the checking, 21 excess passengers were reportedly deboarded and the vehicle was challaned for overloading before continuing its journey.
Local authorities noted that several accidents have occurred in the past near the PWD Tiraaha due to the steep gradient of the road. Police had previously written to the concerned department seeking measures to improve road safety at the location.
Preliminary investigation indicates that brake failure may have caused the accident, although the exact circumstances are being verified. Police have initiated a detailed inquiry and are carrying out the necessary legal formalities. Fortunately, no student was seriously injured in the mishap, and all the children were reported to be safe.
