14 children dead after bus plunges into canal in northern Pakistan

[News_Editor]

14 children dead after bus plunges into canal in northern Pakistan

2011-06-11 01:08:13 GMT+7 (ICT)

MIRPUR, PAKISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- At least 14 children on Friday died after a school bus plunged into a canal in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), northern Pakistan, Ary news television reported.

The bus was carrying children to school when it fell into the Upper Jehlum canal in Head Ali Baig town. Thirteen children drowned in the canal while another died later on way to the hospital.

Assistant Commissioner Bhimber Ali Asghar said that the incident was labeled as an accident and search efforts continue at the canal. He added that the driver was speeding and thus lost control of the vehicle.

There were over 20 passengers on the school bus, 18 of them children aged at most 15. The bus departed from Ali Baig town to drop the children at various schools in Mirpur.

Four children were rescued alive from the canal and were transported to a local hospital. The youngsters were students of Army Public School, Jairy School and Mirpur School.

On Monday, a similar accident took place in the southwestern region of Pakistan. At least 16 people were killed when a passenger vehicle plunged into a ravine near Chaman, Balochistan.

The van had taken off from Chaman and was traveling to Quetta. The driver of the vehicle was speeding and handling the van carelessly until the accident occurred. In addition to the fatal victims, which included women and children, nine others were reported injured, most of them in critical condition.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-06-11