School Van Overturns in Bahraich Forest Area, Leaving 12 Children Injured
A tragic accident occurred on Tuesday morning in the forest area of Katarniaghat in Bahraich, where a private school van overturned, resulting in injuries to at least 12 schoolchildren. One of the children sustained critical injuries in the mishap, raising serious concerns about student safety during transportation.
Details of the Accident Near Bichhiya Forest Barrier
The accident took place near the Bichhiya forest barrier when the van, which was reportedly moving at a high speed, went out of control and overturned on the roadside. The vehicle belonged to Bappa Ji School, a private institution located in Chafaria. It was ferrying children from several Nepal border-adjacent, tribal-dominated villages, including Bardiya, Amba, Vishunapur, and Fakirpuri, to the school at the time of the incident.
Injuries Sustained by Children and Driver
The van driver, identified as Aamir Khan, also sustained injuries in the accident. Local residents and passers-by quickly rushed to the spot immediately after the mishap and shifted the injured children and the driver to a nearby private medical practitioner for initial treatment. The injured students have been identified as follows:
- Anuj (Class 9)
- Surya (Class 8)
- Adarsh (Class 9)
- Adarsh (Class 1)
- Sita (LKG)
- Riyarth (Nursery)
- Aryan (Class 1)
- Reena (Class 11)
- Sabrin (Class 2)
- Krish (Nursery)
- Akhtar Raza (LKG)
Among these, Surya sustained serious injuries and was reported to be in critical condition, highlighting the severity of the accident.
Investigation and Response from Authorities
The exact cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained, according to station house officer Prakash Chandra Sharma. This incident underscores the urgent need for stricter safety measures and regular inspections of school transport vehicles, especially in remote and forested areas like Katarniaghat. The community's swift response in providing immediate aid has been commendable, but it calls for broader systemic changes to prevent such tragedies in the future.
