7 school children killed as bus falls in canal

Amritsar, Sep 20 (PTI) Seven children were killed and 17others injured when a school bus fell into a canal at Mahawaborder out post near Attari border today. The incident occurred while the school bus, carrying 37students, was crossing a narrow bridge on its way to drop thechildren home after school, Superintendent of Police (SSP)Harkamalpreet Singh said. "The bus got stuck on the bridge and the driver tried tomanoeuvre his way out following which the vehicle overturnedin the canal," he said. "Out of 37 students, seven were killed and 17 othersreceived minor injuries," the SSP said, adding, the injuredhave been hospitalised. The bus belongs to DAV Public School and the deceasedstudents, who were in the age group of 10 and 15 years, belongto the nearby villages of Tibbi, Muhawa and Neshta, policesaid. "Bus driver Charanjit Singh, from Rajataal village, joinedduty yesterday and is absconding after the incident," the SSPsaid, adding, the driver and the owner of the bus have beenbooked. Residents from the villages around the area assembled atthe spot and helped in rescuing the injured. PTI CORR VJ RCBRTRCB