Students of Mangayarkarasi Higher Secondary School had a miraculous escape after the school bus they were travelling in fell on its side near Vadipatti on Wednesday.
There were a total of 50 students in the bus when the incident occurred.
While 35 were admitted to a hospital in Ayyankottai, 15 are under treatment in Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai.
According to police, the bus driver swerved the vehicle off the tarmac on the left side to avoid a speeding vehicle approaching it in the opposite direction.
He lost control of the vehicle due to the wet soil and the bus toppled to its left.
However, parents of the students alleged that the bus was usually overloaded. But the headmaster of the school denied the allegation.
District Collector L. Subramanian who visited the injured students at GRH annexe building said, “It is unfortunate that the accident took place, but luckily all students are safe.”
“A special team comprising officials from the Regional Transport Office also visited the accident spot. Investigations revealed that the road was too narrow to accommodate two vehicles at a time,” he said.
“Teams have already been constituted to carry out regular inspection of school and private vehicles transporting children across the district. We have taken action against violators,” the Collector added.
Meanwhile, Angelo Irudayasami, Chief Educational Officer, who accompanied the District Collector, told reporters present that schools had been time and again asked to give top priority to safety aspects.
A case has been registered by Vadipatti police.
K. Ramakrishnan (51), driver of the school bus has been arrested.
