The police arrested the driver after registering a case of negligence against him. PHOTO: FILE
At least 32 students, including five girls, were injured in two road accidents in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Friday.
Police officials told The Express Tribune that five girl students of a local college were among 18 schoolchildren injured when a wagon they were travelling in fell into a deep ravine near Akbari Bridge in Kotli District, some 200 kilometres from here.
The injured students were shifted to the district headquarters hospital, Kotli, where doctors said six students were in critical condition.
The other 12 students who received minor injuries were discharged after providing initial medical aid.
The injured students while recording their statements told the police that the driver lost control over the steering of the vehicle while negotiating a sharp curve near the bridge as he was talking to someone on the cell phone.
The police arrested the driver after registering a case of negligence against him.
Separately another school van fell into a gorge near Neela Butt some 60 kilometres from here.
The police said the van with 14 schoolchildren onboard was on way to Neela Butt from Dhirkot when the accident occurred near Mujahid-i-Awal Park. The driver lost control over the steering and the van fell into a 200 feet deep ravine injuring the children.
The local people started the rescue operation and shifted the injured children in private jeeps to Dhirkot Tehsil Headquarters Hospital.
Five of the injured children were shifted to Islamabad because of their serious condition.
The police have started investigation but made no arrests in connection with the accident till filing of this report.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 5th, 2013.
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