Our Correspondent
Imphal, Dec. 21 (EMN): At least seven persons, including six students, were killed, while more than 35 others sustained injuries, in a tragic bus accident at Khoupum area in Manipur’s Noney district on Wednesday.
The death toll could increase as the condition of some of the injured are critical, officials said.
The incident took place when the bus carrying 47 persons, including students and staff of Thambalnu Higher Secondary School, Yairipok Top Chingha Imphal East, overturned at Nungsai village under Noney at around 11 am.
The students and staff of the school were heading towards Khoupum, a picturesque valley under Noney district on an annual study tour.
Reports said five students succumbed to the injuries on the spot, and two others on their way to the hospital.
The injured were first transported to Bishnupur district hospital, which is the nearest health care centre, and later evacuated to RIMS, a government hospital, and Raj Medicity, a private hospital, for treatment. Presently, there are 26 injured persons at Raj Medicity and 14 others at RIMS.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh visited the injured students and staff on their arrival at the hospitals, where he assured all possible help. Biren Singh also visited Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal and met the families of the students who passed away in the accident.
Later, sharing his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families while briefing reporters at CM secretariat, he announced that an ex-gratia of INR 5 lakh each from CM’s Relief Fund will be provided to the victims’ families, INR 1 lakh each to the seriously injured and INR 50,000 to those with minor injuries.
Appreciating the swift response of villagers near the accident site to rescue the victims, he said the government had been able to initiate timely rescue action as the villagers had shared about the accident on social media.
To avoid such incidents in future, he cautioned the public to take utmost care while driving in hill areas, as the visibility becomes lower during the winter season due to fog.
He informed that the Education department had issued an order on Wednesday directing the school authorities in the state not to organise school excursions till January 10, 2023 to avoid any untoward incidents.
Urging all the drivers of passenger vehicles plying in the state not to drive beyond the speed limit, he warned that necessary action would be taken against those operators carrying students beyond capacity, like cancelling of driving license.
Ministers Govindas Konthoujam (Works), Thounaojam Basanta Kumar (Education), Heikham Dingo (Social Welfare) and Director General of Police P Doungel and other senior officials were also present during the day’s press briefing.