10 students injured as school van overturns in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj

At least 10 students sustained injuries after a school van in which they were travelling in lost control and met with an accident near Bhaura on the Karanjia-Chadeibhol road in Mayurbhanj district on Wednesday.

According to sources, the vehicle reportedly lost balance on a sharp turn and overturned, leaving over 10 students and the driver injured. The driver of the ill-fated van also sustained injuries in the mishap. 

The injured students, who belong to a private school, along with the driver were immediately rushed to a nearby medical facility for treatment, sources informed.

On being informed about the incident, local authorities reached the spot and initiated an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident.

Protest Over The Accident Injuring School Students

Following the accident, locals staged a road blockade on the Karanjia-Chadeibhol route, demanding proper treatment for the injured students and strict action against the driver. 

They also raised concerns over school vehicles operating without proper fitness certificates and valid documents, highlighting the risks posed to students.

How Safe Are School Buses?

In a shocking revelation, in the Odisha Legislative Assembly, the State Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena recently informed the House that as many as ‘460 school vanes are operating in Bhubaneswar without valid fitness certificates’.

The Minister also informed the House that ‘3322 passenger buses, which are over 10-year-old, are plying on different routes of the State’.