India: At least 14 children die after schoolbus plunges into pond

[News_Editor]

India: At least 14 children die after schoolbus plunges into pond

2012-03-21 09:42:05 GMT+7 (ICT)

HYDERABAD, INDIA (BNO NEWS) -- At least fourteen school children died in southern India after their school bus plunged into a pond on Tuesday, local authorities said.

The accident occurred in the small town of Raghavpuram, located in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, around 250 kilometers (150 miles) east of Hyderabad, the state capital, when the driver of the bus, which was carrying at least 40 children, swerved to avoid a head-collision.

Andhra Pradesh police director-general S.A. Huda told the Times of India that the driver of the bus lost control after avoiding a motorcycle that was headed straight towards the bus. The bus was speeding, and a as a result, it swerved off the road and fell into a pond.

Emergency teams along with local villagers and volunteers arrived at the scene and were able to rescue several children from the bus, which was partly submerged. A total of fourteen children were confirmed dead after locals pulled out their bodies.

Deadly road accidents in India is not uncommon, as the country holds the world's largest death toll per year with more than 110,000. The most common causes are speeding, overcrowding, as well as poor vehicle and road maintenance.

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