Haryana: ‘Drunk’ driver crashes school bus, killing 6 students and injuring 21

The mishap at Unhani village came soon after the driver almost hit another vehicle, police said. Inspector Ramnath, the station house officer (SHO) of Sadar Kanina, said: “The driver stopped the bus and took out the keys, prompting locals to gather. They called the school authorities and informed them that the driver was drunk and driving rashly. Later, they gave the keys back and he drove away.”

Police have arrested the bus driver Dharmendra, GL Public School’s principal Deepti, and the secretary of the school’s management Hoshiyar Singh. The government suspended the Regional Transport Authority’s (RTA) Assistant Secretary “as he failed to control the vehicles plying on road within the district without valid documents due to which school bus… which was plying on road without valid documents met with an accident”.

Mahendragarh SP Arsh Verma said: “We have sought a response from the school authorities on why the institution was open on Eid, a public holiday.” He said there were 40 students inside the vehicle.

The wreckage of the bus in Haryana’s Mahendragarh district. (Express photo: Manoj Dhaka)

Police registered an FIR after a complaint by a Class 12 student. According to the complaint, the bus driver continued to drive rashly despite repeated requests to slow down.

President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, among others, expressed their condolences.

महेंद्रगढ़ के उन्हानी गाँव में स्कूल बस दुर्घटनाग्रस्त होने का दुःखद समाचार मिला है जिसमें बच्चों के निधन और कुछ बच्चों के घायल होने की हृदय विदारक सूचना है। ईश्वर से प्रार्थना करता हूँ कि मृतक बच्चों की आत्मा को शान्ति प्रदान करे और घायलों को जल्द स्वस्थ करे। भगवान से प्रार्थना…

Mahendragarh Deputy Commissioner Monika Gupta said the negligence of the driver and school management had come to their attention and that the police were investigating all aspects. “It was the responsibility of the management to check the driver’s background before hiring him. Action will be taken against the driver, principal and management of the school,” she said.

The DC added that the treatment cost will be borne by the government.

Haryana Education Minister Seema Trikha said: “Private schools should stop doing business. Despite it being a holiday, the school was working. It is a matter of grave concern. Stern action shall be taken. An inquiry shall also be conducted on how the private school was open despite it being a government holiday.”