School bus tragedy: Three students killed

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:  Three children were drowned and two are in a critical stage after the school van carrying 23 students of St Andrews Jyothy Nilayam High Secondary School at Puthukurichy,  lost control and plunged into the Parvathy Puthanaar at Channamkara near Kadinamkulam on Monday evening. This is the second such tragedy to hit the capital in less than a year. The deceased have been identified as Kaniha Santosh, a first standard student, Aromal S Nair, fourth standard student and Ashwin, a fifth standard student. The condition of Krishna, 5, and Krishna Priya, 10, admitted at SAT hospital here is said to be critical. A CRPF jawan engaged in the rescue operations collapsed and has been admitted to the hospital. Out of the rescued 20 students, three are undergoing treatment in the CSI Mission hospital at Kazhakoottam, 14 at the SAT Hospital here and one student is undergoing treatment at KIMS hospital.Search for the suspectedly missing kids was launched in full swing,as naval divers from Kochi were also rushed in.However, it has been confirmed that only 23 students were there in the bus at the time of mishap. The bus carried 26 students from the school out of which three students were dropped at their respective homes.The mishap occurred while students were on their way back to their homes in the bus belonging to another school, engaged for chartered daily trips. The bus driver Giforson has confessed that he had lost control of the Mahindra mini-bus while he was trying to avoid hitting a dog.The driver and cleaner of the bus, have been taken into custody by the police.Among those who visited the spot were Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and many ministers in his Cabinet, Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan, KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala and others.