School principal, bus driver arrested after 6 killed in Haryana accident

The principal of a Haryana school was among three arrested after a school bus carrying several children overturned in Mahendragarh on Thursday, killing six children and injuring 20.

The driver, who was allegedly drunk and jumped out of the bus just before it rammed into a tree, was also taken into custody. A senior police official said a medical test confirmed that alcohol was present in the driver's bloodstream.

The third arrest was that of the secretary of the school.

The bus did not have a fitness certificate, which had expired in 2018, and was fined recently.

"We had challaned the bus for Rs 15,500 due to a lack of documents," Transport Minister Aseem Goel said, adding that the fact that it was still being used was a clear lapse on the part of the school authorities.

According to an NDTV report, a state road transport official has been suspended over the incident.

Fourteen of the students who were hospitalised after the accident have been discharged but three are critical, the report said.

The government has also ordered an inquiry into why classes were being held in the school on Eid, which is public holiday.

A show-cause notice has been issued to the school, and officials have sent a proposal to the state government for cancelling its recognition.

The administration has also initiated a process to check the fitness of all school buses.

Affidavits will be taken from all private schools to the effect that their buses are running in accordance with norms, and officials have vowed to take action wherever violations are found.

Also watch: Mahendragarh bus accident: Haryana govt orders probe