A tragic accident in Kerala's Kannur district on Wednesday claimed the life of a 10-year-old girl and left 18 other students injured when a school bus overturned at Valakkai. The deceased, identified as Nedhya S. Rajesh, a Class 5 student, was thrown out of the bus and crushed under its wheels as it overturned.
The bus, belonging to Chinmaya School in Kurumathur, was carrying 20 students when it lost control near the Valakkai Bridge while giving way to another vehicle. According to officials, the incident occurred on a slope, with some sources attributing the cause to a potential brake failure. However, police confirmed that an investigation is underway.
One injured student remains in critical condition. Locals swiftly transported the injured to Taliparamba Taluk Hospital for treatment, while Nedhya's body was taken to the Government Medical College in Pariyaram.
CCTV footage of the accident, now viral on social media, shows the bus suddenly flipping onto the opposite road before locals rushed to the rescue. Authorities have filed a case against the driver under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including those for rash driving and causing death by negligence.
Residents blamed the “unscientific design” of the road for the accident, alleging frequent mishaps in the area. Meanwhile, there was no immediate response from Chinmaya School officials regarding the incident.
This tragedy has sparked widespread grief and concern over road safety and vehicle maintenance standards in the region.
