Children seated in the middle had to bear the brunt of collision

Poor visibility because of heavy rain and the unsafe conditions in which the children were being taken to school appears to have led to the accident that claimed eight lives at Trasi village in Kundapur taluk of Udupi district.

The mini-van was taking a right turn at Movady Cross when the bus collided with it. The van’s indicators were on. The passengers in the bus said that there was poor visibility because of heavy rain in the area.

Sources in the police said that 12 children of kindergarten and lower classes were sitting on the two seats in the centre facing each other. Since the bus hit the side, all the children in the middle had to bear the brunt of the collision. Three students were seated in the rear of the van. The driver and those seated at the back suffered serious injuries, sources said.

The hospital has identified the deceased children as Clarissa, Calista, Ancita, Nikitha, Alvita, Ananya, Roystan and Delvin — all aged between five and 14. The names of the children, who were injured and are receiving treatment, are Anson, Minora Risha Dias, Mario Olivera, Fiona Crasta, Lisel Crasta and Oprah Crasta — aged between five and 11.

Superintendent of Police K. Annamalai said that six children and the school teacher, Philomena, who is also the wife of the driver, are receiving treatment at Chinmayi Hospital in Kundapur.

Meanwhile, the police have arrested bus driver Manju K. and detained the conductor, Shankar.