A nine-year-old girl was killed and at least 12 schoolchildren were injured after a school van overturned in Bihar’s Nawada district on Monday morning, in a tragic road accident that has raised concerns over student transport safety.
The incident took place around 8:15 a.m. on Kamlapur Road in the Govindpur block when the vehicle reportedly lost control, veered off the road, fell nearly 20 feet, and overturned multiple times before coming to a halt. Police said the van was transporting schoolchildren at the time of the accident.
Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene as the vehicle tumbled along the roadside. Local villagers working in nearby fields rushed to the spot immediately after hearing the crash. They helped pull the injured children out of the wreckage and transported them to nearby hospitals for emergency treatment.
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According to police, one student identified as Arohi Kumari (9) died in the accident, while two children remain in critical condition. Several others are being treated and kept under medical observation. Officials said the injured are receiving care at different hospitals in the region.
Preliminary reports suggest the vehicle belonged to a private school and may have been carrying more students than its permitted capacity. Locals alleged that while the van was designed for around 15 passengers, it was carrying more than 25 children at the time of the accident. Some eyewitnesses also claimed the driver appeared to be in an intoxicated state and was driving at high speed, though these claims are yet to be officially confirmed.
Police have arrested the driver and registered a case under charges of rash and negligent driving. A medical examination of the accused driver is also being conducted as part of the investigation. Authorities are examining all aspects of the incident, including vehicle condition, adherence to safety norms, and possible lapses by the school administration.
The accident has sparked anger among local residents, who are demanding strict action against those responsible and stronger enforcement of school transport safety regulations to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
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