Seven students of the Vikram Sarabhai Institute of Science and Technology at Vellanad near the capital were among eight people who died as a tourist bus turned turtle near Rajakkad in Idukki on Monday. One of them was a girl.
The bus was on its way to Munnar from Kodaikanal, and was descending a hill. While negotiating a sharp bend, the bus fell nearly 75 feet into a ravine at Thekkinkanam, before hitting the same road running below at about 12.30 pm.
The students were Shaiju, of Kalamassery, Sreejesh of Thrikkunnapuzha South, Jibin John Paul of Nanthankod, Vignesh of Kowdiar, Hemand G.S. Kumar from Palode, Sarath Chandran of Ambalamedu in Kochi and Manju Balakrishnan of Kannur. The cleaner of the bus, Rajkumar, a native of Kazhakuttom, also died.
The bus was carrying 45 people. As many as 41 of them were students – 28 boys and 13 girls, besides two senior relatives of a student.
The students, in their final year electronics and instrumentation course, were on an excursion ahead of the approaching annual examinations. It appears the trip was arranged by the students themselves, and no teacher had accompanied them.
Principal of Vikram Sarabahai College, Dr. M.K. Jana, said the college authorities had no knowledge of the tour, though a good number of students got together for the trip. Some parents, however, said their impression when the students set out was that it was a tour authorized by the college. The uncle and aunt of Vignesh, who died in the accident, had tagged along.
Among the 11 admitted to the Kolencherry Medical Mission Hospital, the condition of three was serious. Some others with minor injuries were admitted to the Government Hospital and Morning Star Hospital in Adimaly.
According to sources, the bus was diverted to the route as repair work was going on, on the main road. The road had no protective wall, and the bus fell straight into the ravine, people from the accident site said.
Chief minister Oommen Chandy said the government would meet the expenses for the treatment of those injured in the accident. Police has registered a case and a probe is on.
College didn’t give approval for picnic
Thiruvananthapuram: Dark clouds and thundershowers were not the reason for the eerie silence at the Sarabhai Institute of Science and Technology near Vellanad. News of Monday’s bus tragedy which claimed the lives of 8 students plunged the institute into deep shock and grief.
“It is a rude shock for us. We were expecting the students to be preparing for their final semester exam is scheduled to begin on April 1,” said college principal M. K. Jana. “As soon as news of the accident reached us a team led by assistant professor Bijoy Babu rushed to the accident spot. All possible assistance will be provided. Although the students went without our knowledge, we cannot delineate from our commitment,” said Jana.
It was around 2 pm when the news of the bus accident, involving 39 students of the final year Electronics and Instrumentation reached the college. Ironically, the 43 students of the batch had been given a warm send off only recently. News of the accident spread like wildfire across the campus with students and faculty members glued to a television set to get news updates. The office staff were busy attending phone calls from parents and media.
“A decision on keeping the bodies in the college has to be taken by the parents. We will stand by the parents’ wish,” said a college official.
Tuesday 26 March 2013
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/130326/news-current-affairs/article/eight-die-bus-falls-ravine
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