School bus hits a divider at Rajnigandha Chowk in Noida; 16 students injured, driver critical

NOIDA: At least 16 students were injured on Saturday morning after a school bus hit a divider at Rajnigandha Chowk underpass in Noida. The driver and conductor of the bus are said to be in a critical condition. The injured have been moved to nearby Kailash hospital.

The bus was carrying more than 30 students when the accident took place. The bus belonged to Apeejay school in Noida.

The incident happened around 8 am when the bus of a private school was crossing through the underpass at Rajnigandha Chowk. "Sixteen children were injured in the accident. They were taken to Kailash Hospital and discharged after first-aid. The driver, Ganga Saran, has received severe injuries and is being treated," Manoj Kumar Pant, station house officer of Sector 20 police station, said.

The bus has been seized, police said, adding a probe was underway. 

The police said prima facie was that the bus hit a mound of concrete lying on the roadside at the Rajnigandha underpass in Sector-20 and the driver lost control and hit the pillar. 

School authorities have blamed the Noida authorities for the construction material littered on the road for the mishap.