At least 29 students and the driver of a private school bus were injured after the vehicle lost control and overturned into a water-filled roadside ditch in Bihar’s Rohtas district on Saturday, triggering panic among parents and raising fresh concerns over the safety of school transport.
The accident took place in the Kochas police station area on the link road connecting Siwan and Jalalpur villages. The bus, belonging to a private school identified as DPS School in Jalalpur, was carrying students when it suddenly went out of control and overturned beside the road, according to local residents.
Eyewitnesses said the bus veered off the road before falling into the water-filled ditch. Moments after the accident, local villagers rushed to the spot and launched rescue efforts, helping children trapped inside the overturned vehicle to safety.
The injured students and the bus driver were taken to a nearby hospital for first aid. While 29 children sustained injuries, no student was reported to be critically injured. Several parents later shifted their children to private hospitals for further medical examination and treatment.
The incident sparked anger among local residents, who alleged that the school had been operating old and unfit buses for a long time, putting the lives of students at risk. They claimed that little attention had been paid to the technical condition and fitness of the school’s fleet despite repeated concerns.
Residents demanded strict action against the school management and called on the district administration to conduct a comprehensive inspection of all school buses operating in the area. They urged authorities to ensure that only roadworthy vehicles are permitted to transport students.
Police reached the accident site soon after receiving information about the incident and began an investigation into the circumstances leading to the crash. Administrative officials have also launched a probe to determine the exact cause of the accident and whether any negligence was involved.
The mishap has once again brought the spotlight on the safety standards of school transport vehicles and the enforcement of fitness norms. Parents have urged the administration to carry out regular inspections of school buses and ensure that safety regulations are strictly followed to prevent similar incidents in the future.
– Ends
With inputs from Ranjan Kumar
Published By:
Ritaban Misra
Published On:
Jul 25, 2026 21:27 IST
