Tragic School Auto Accident in Gumla Claims 9-Year-Old Girl's Life
A heartbreaking road accident in Gumla district has resulted in the death of a nine-year-old girl and left another seven-year-old student critically injured. The devastating incident occurred on Wednesday morning when the autorickshaw transporting them to school overturned under the jurisdiction of the Basia police station.
Details of the Fatal Collision
The deceased has been identified as Akansha Kumari, a native of Maharajganj village who was temporarily residing with her mother Sushma Devi at her maternal uncle's home in Gangdagaon village. The injured student was named as Annu Kerketta. The tragic event unfolded near Badatoli village, where eyewitnesses reported to police that the three-wheeler was traveling at excessive speed before the driver lost control, causing the vehicle to overturn completely.
There were nine students total inside the autorickshaw at the time of the accident, highlighting the concerning overcrowding often seen in school transportation vehicles in rural areas. The impact of the crash proved fatal for young Akansha, while Annu sustained critical injuries requiring immediate medical attention.
Emergency Response and Investigation
Following the collision, emergency services rushed to the scene. Akansha's body was transported to Gumla Sadar Hospital for a postmortem examination to determine the exact cause of death. Meanwhile, the injured Annu Kerketta was admitted to Basia Referral Hospital where she received urgent medical treatment for her serious injuries.
Krishna Kumar, the officer-in-charge of Basia police station, provided crucial details about the ongoing investigation. "An FIR has been formally filed against the autorickshaw driver, and the vehicle has been seized as part of our investigation," stated Kumar. "During preliminary questioning, the driver claimed he was experiencing dizziness just moments before losing control of the vehicle."
Heartbreaking Prelude to Tragedy
In a particularly poignant detail that adds to the tragedy, Akansha had expressed reluctance to attend school that very morning. She told her mother Sushma Devi that she did not want to go because her shoes were torn and in poor condition. This ordinary childhood concern about footwear became part of a much larger tragedy that would claim her young life just hours later.
The incident has raised serious questions about:
- Road safety standards for school transportation
- Vehicle maintenance and driver fitness checks
- Overcrowding in school transport vehicles
- Emergency medical response in rural areas
Local authorities continue their investigation into the exact circumstances that led to this preventable tragedy, while the community mourns the loss of a young life and prays for the recovery of the injured student.
