NEW DELHI, November 17: A school bus carrying 21 children overturned near the Samachar Apartments in Mayur Vihar when the driver tried to overtake a Maruti car at the red light. He was apparently trying to jump the red light. Most children in the bus, students of the Apeejay School, Noida, sustained injuries. There were no casualties, however.The incident took place around 8 a.m., when the driver, who was already driving in the middle lane as against the prescribed left, in an attempt to overtake a Maruti car switched to the right lane and lost control. The bus hit the divider and overturned on its left. This despite the fact that the traffic light was flashing a stop sign. Fortunately for the children, help came promptly and they were pulled out from the windows. They were then rushed to the school and from there to the Noida Medical Centre, Sector 30 for a check up.The driver, it is reported, tried to flee but was arrested on the spot. The parents were informed only after the students had been taken to the hospital and in some cases as late as 1.30 p.m.. The incident comes a year after the Wazirabad tragedy that falls tomorrow, in which 30 school children lost their lives when the bus carrying them fell into the Yamuna due to the driver's negligence. Says R.K. Virmani, parent of seven-year-old Ankit and four-year-old Apoorva, who were hurt in the accident: ``We had been complaining to the principal about the poor bus management for the children.Earlier the school bus used to carry as many as 90 plus students in one round, and it was only recently that the school had given a separate bus for the 25 children from this area. But this bus was in a bad shape with seats falling off and handrails coming out.'' The state of the bus apparently made matters worse, causing injuries that could have been avoided. Ankit is suffering from a bump on the head and is still feeling giddy, while Apoorva has sprained both her wrists and a thumb. Neha Mathur, another young victim, is suffering from a hairline fracture in her pelvic bone and 14-year-old Katha Kartikey has suffered several bruises and sprains.What is really bothering the parents, however, is that the principal, J.R. Prashar, does not seem hassled over the issue, though he did express concern. Moreover, he did not have the required details about the driver, such as his license number and his experience certificate, which, according to a Supreme Court regulation, are a must. Sources say that following the accident, he went to the extent of announcing in the morning assembly that the breaks had failed to cover up of the driver's fault.The driver, according to some students, had been challaned twice for jumping red lights.
