School bus collides into tree in Palghar, 15 hurt

Mumbai: Around 15 students sustained injuries, out of which four were greviously injured after a bus of JP International School met with an accident in Palghar’s Mahim on Monday. The accident took place near Paneri River around 1.10pm in the jurisdiction of Satpati police station. It was said that due to high speed, the driver lost control and the bus crashed after colliding with the roadside tree.

The bus was occupied by 15 students, a female attendant and the driver, Palghar police said. Locals who were present at the spot reported the incident and also helped the injured students to reach Palghar rural hospital nearby. The impact of the collision was so high that the roof of the bus was destroyed completely.

“Four students have sustained serious injuries and they have been rushed to Dhavle Hospital for the treatment. Other students were discharged after administering first aid,” said Hemant Katkar, Palghar police spokesperson.

The police official said that the driver; Vishnu Patil was behind the wheels of the ill-fated bus that rammed into the tree. The officials said that he was not under the influence of alcohol when the accident took place. The police have sought help from the Regional Transport Officials (RTO) to inspect the school bus to ascertain the cause of accident.

The families of the injured students approached the police and lodged a complaint against the driver. The police said that the detailed statement of the attendant and the students will also be recorded soon to ascertain the sequence of the incident.

A case has been registered by the Satpati police station under sections 279 (rash driving), 338 (causing grevious hurt by endangering life and personal safety of others) and 427 (causing damage) as per the provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) along with the sections of the Motor Vehicle Act.

The accused driver will be arrested after he is discharged from the hospital, police said.