Janjgir-Champa, India: A serious road accident occurred in Chhattisgarh’s Janjgir-Champa district when a school van carrying children overturned after colliding with a tractor. The incident left at least nine children, two teachers, and the school principal injured.
📍 How the Accident Happened
The accident took place in Kuthur village. According to initial reports, the principal of Saraswati Gyan Mandir, B.P. Sharma, was driving the school van himself to pick up students from Mudpar village.
The van was carrying around 10 children, ranging from nursery to sixth grade, along with two teachers. While returning to Kuthur, the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, which then rammed into a tractor parked along the roadside. The impact caused the van to overturn, leading to chaos and panic at the scene.
🚑 Rescue and Medical Response
Local residents rushed to the site immediately after the crash and began rescue operations. All injured passengers were pulled out of the overturned vehicle and transported to the district hospital.
Doctors confirmed that:
- All injured individuals received primary medical treatment
- Some victims are under observation
- The condition of the children is currently stable
One student and one teacher have been referred to the Pamgarh Community Health Center for further care.
🗣️ Statement from the Principal
Principal B.P. Sharma, who was also injured in the accident, stated:
“The regular driver was on leave, so I went myself to pick up the children. Suddenly, I experienced a blackout, and the accident occurred.”
👨⚕️ Official Medical Update
Civil Surgeon Dr. S. Kujur confirmed that all injured individuals are being treated and closely monitored. No fatalities have been reported so far.
🏫 Authorities Respond
Following the incident, Block Education Officer Ashok Patle from Nawagarh visited the hospital to check on the injured students. He assured that a detailed investigation would be conducted and appropriate action would be taken against those found responsible.
⚠️ Safety Concerns Raised
Preliminary findings suggest possible violations of safety norms, including:
- Overloading of the school van
- Lack of a trained driver, as the principal was operating the vehicle
The incident has once again raised serious concerns about school transportation safety and adherence to regulations.
📋 List of Injured
Students:
- Aarushi Bareth
- Ankush Bareth
- Lakshya Khare
- Roshan Patel
- Yash Patel
- Gulshan Patel
- Isha Sahu
- Prabhash Bareth
Others:
- Santoshi Sharma (Teacher)
- B.P. Sharma (Principal)
❗ Conclusion
This accident highlights the urgent need for stricter enforcement of school transport safety regulations, including proper staffing, vehicle capacity limits, and driver training, to prevent such incidents in the future.