School bus falls into canal in Punjab, seven children killed; compensation of Rs 11 lakh announced

Amritsar: Seven students were killed and 15 others were left injured after a school bus fell into a canal near Amritsar on Tuesday afternoon. 

The bus driver, owner and the school management were booked after students and parents alleged that rash driving led to the accident.

The van was taking students back home from DAV Public School, Neshta, when the accident occurred 5 km from the school at 1.30pm.

According to the police, there was no railing on the narrow bridge from which the bus fell. Also, 35 children were travelling on the vehicle that had a capacity of 20. Most of the children were aged between 7 and 15 years, the police said.

Some of the students told the police that the driver, Satnam Singh, was driving rashly and lost control over the bus on a narrow bridge. 

He fled after the accident, the police said.

The Punjab government has announced a compensation of Rs 11 lakh each to the families of the deceased and free treatment for the injured, who were admitted to different hospitals in the area.