Minor injuries for 3 students after school bus rams into tree

Three students of the newly-opened Podar Education Complex in Powai were injured when the school bus they were travelling in rammed into a tree near Sun City Complex, Vikhroli (West) on Tuesday. A female bus attendant was also injured in the mishap.

Police have arrested bus driver Sudhakar Trimbak Pandagade (50) for rash driving and causing hurt, and said they waiting for medical reports from the Mahatma Phule Hospital to ascertain if Pandagade was under the influence of alcohol.

The incident took place around 7 am when the 37-seater bus (MH 03 N 9358) was ferrying 13 children to school. Four students from Sun City Complex were waiting to board the bus. According to the driver’s statement, he was proceeding towards Shankaracharya Marg when he realised that there was the brakes were not working properly. He said that as the vehicle was going down a slope, he deliberately hit the tree to bring the vehicle to a halt.

“We will send the bus to RTO to check for technical issues. It looks to be a new bus, so chances of the brakes failing are less. It was a lucky escape for the students, as the front portion of the bus is severely damaged. We have recorded a complaint based on the account given by Jagjit Singh, an eyewitness. We will also record the statement of the bus attendant,” said PSI Anil Kekan with Parksite police station.

Jagjit Singh, 47, a businessman and resident of Mercury apartments, said he heard a loud noise. “I spotted the bus and called my neighbours for help. The kids were rescued first. The attendant had a bruise on her head. Three kids suffered minor injuries. Then the Fire Brigade was called in for further rescue operations. Within 20 minutes, another school bus arrived and took the students to school,” Singh said. He added that parents of the kids were reluctant to approach the police, fearing trouble with the school authorities, so he lodged the complaint.

The Powai branch of Podar School, that was launched only four days ago, is plying 13 new buses for students.

CS Mani, general manager (Transport), Podar Group of Schools, said, “The bus was delivered to us 10 days ago, and it has a fitness certificate from the RTO. Despite that, the brakes failed. We have informed the transport company about this. Nobody was injured as such, and first aid was enough. The attendant is fine and resumed work. The driver was not found to be drunk and he was released on bail, after which he drove another bus in the afternoon. It’s an unfortunate incident.”

A case under IPC section 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way) and 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) has been registered, police said.