Tragedy strikes students on study tour
At least 9 including 7 students killed as bus plunges off road
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 21 2022: At least nine persons including 8 students (all girls) were killed and 37 others were injured when a bus carrying students on a study tour met with a tragic accident on Old Cachar road, Tubung Longsai Part-III, Noney district today.

Reportedly, two buses carrying students of Thambalnu Higher Secondary School, Yairipok Top Chingtha were on a study tour to Khoupum when the ill-fated accident happened to one of the buses at around 11 am.

The bus which met with the accident was leading when it suddenly lost control and plunged down a steep slope some 70 meters and turned turtle on a road below.

According to police, more than 40 persons including the driver and the handyman were on board.

The bus was carrying only girl students and 5 of them died on the spot while one male teacher and a female warden succumbed to their injuries on the way to District Hospital Bishnupur.

Tragedy strikes students on study tour

At least 33 persons including teachers and students are presently undergoing treatment in different hospitals and some of them are said to be in serious conditions.

According to a latest report, 11 victims have been admitted at Raj Medicity and another 11 are undergoing treatment at RIMS, Imphal.

Of the 10 killed in the tragic accident, the 8 girl students have been identified as Laishram Roma (17) D/o L Ramchandra of Yairipok Sifai Leikai, Thangjam Chingkheilembi (17) D/o Th Binoy of Yairipok Top, Konthoujam Menaliya (17) D/o K Sanatomba of Khonthoujam Poirou Khonjin Yairipok, Moirangthem Dolly (18) D/o M Naoba Singh of Yairipok Top, Laikhuram Bita (18) D/o of Ingocha of yairipok Laimanai (succumbed at Raj Medicity), Loitongbam Athoi (16) D/o of Shagor of Yairipok Yambem (succumbed at Raj Medicity) and Phanjoubam Rita (17) D/o Loken of Andro Khunou Karongthel.

Another young student K Soniya of Yairipok Lourembam is reported to be critical.The deceased male teacher and the female warden have been identified as Sanasam Kishan (32) S/o S Khomei of Thoubal Sabaltongbi and Yumnam Mitkhubi (42) W/o Y Premjit of Yairipok Top respectively.

Meanwhile, Governor La Ganesan, Chief Minister N Biren Singh and many others have expressed condolences and shared the grief and pain of the bereaved families.

Soon after the incident, a large number of police personnel of Imphal West, Bishnupur and Chura-chandpur under the supervision of IGP Zone-I Themthing Ngasangva rushed to the spot to evacuate the injured.

Large number of ambulance vehicles also rushed to the spot and evacuated the injured students, teachers and non-teaching staff of the school for emergency treatment at Bishnupur District Hospital and other hospitals.

Locals helped police in the rescue operation.

Locals and police personnel cleared the road from the incident site up to the nearest hospital to give ambulances free passage.

According to information culled from the spot and according to locals, the site where the unfortunate accident took place is an accident prone area.

A few days ago, a mini truck also met a similar fate and fell down from the same spot.

Locals said they heard a loud sound and found the bus carrying students and teachers lying upside down in the middle of the road, a few meters away from Tubung Longsai Part-III junction.

The site is some 7 kilometers away from Joujangtek and 33 kilo-meters from Khoupum valley.

Initially, the students and teachers who were travelling on other buses and locals started rescuing the injured and trapped students.

The State Education Minister, Works Minister and Health Minister also arrived at the spot and looked after the measures taken up to rescue the injured. Following the unfortunate incident, the Directorate of Education (S) has put a ban on all school excursions till January 10, 2023 .

An office memorandum issued to this effect today said the ban imposed is to prevent such accidents from happening in future during the winter season.

Visibility is usually low in winter due to fog/mist and smog.

Soon after the reports of the incident emerged, Governor La Ganesan followed by Chief Minister N Biren Singh and others expressed their deepest condolences and shared the grief and pain of the bereaved families.

Governor L Ganesan expressed his deepest condolences and said he was deeply shocked and saddened by the incident.

He conveyed his deepest condolences to the bereaved family members and prayed to God for peace to the departed souls and strength to the bereaved families to bear the profound sorrows.

He also prayed for speedy recovery of the students injured in the accident.

Many organisations have extended condolences.