School Bus Driver on Cellphone Runs over 3-Year-Old

HYDERABAD: A three-year-old boy died after he was crushed under the wheels of a private school bus in Hayathnagar. The incident occurred at Maruthinagar in Kuntloor on Thursday around 7.30 am.

Taneeru Pavan Harsha Kumar, along with his father Taneeru Srikanth, after getting his elder sister T. Nishika board the school bus, were returning home when the same bus hit Pavan Harsha killing him, Hayathnagar SI V. Chander Singh said.

Srikanth, who works for the postal department, told the police that he was planning to get his son Harsha admitted to playschool in the academic year and insisted that he come along with him to watch his sister board the bus, Chander Singh said.

The bus driver who was talking on his mobile phone did not notice Harsha and hit him. Harsha was crushed to death after he came under the front wheels of the bus.

 “The bus driver was speaking over the phone while driving the vehicle and the attendant was busy with some other work and did not take adequate precautions,” said the sub-inspector.

Police have arrested the bus driver G. Eshwar and the attendant Malla Reddy, and seized the bus.

Following the accident, the school management reached the scene and tried to pacify the matters, but Harsha’s parents, relatives and locals protested and demanded the school should be sealed as they were not taking responsibility and trying to hide facts.