School's study trip turns tragic; nine dead, 38 injured
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 21 2022: At least nine people including seven students, one teacher and a warden were killed and 68 left injured after a bus engaged for the study excursion of Thambalnu Higher Secondary School, Yairipok Top Chingtha to Khoupum met with an accident near Longsai Part-III (Tubung) along the Tongjel Maril road (also known as Old Cachar Road) under Khoupum police station on Wednesday morning.

The deceased have been identified as warden Yumnam Mitkhubi (42) w/o Y Premjit of Yairipok Top; Physics teacher Sanasam Kishan (32) s/o S Khomei of Thoubal Sabal Tongba; Moirangthem Dolly (18) d/o M Naoba of Yairipok Top, Bita Laikhuram (18) d/o Ingocha of Yairipok Laimanai, Konthoujam Menaliya (17) d/o K Sanatomba Konthoujam of Yairipok Poiroukhongjin, Laishram Roma (17) d/o L Ramchandra of Yairipok Sibai Leikai, Thangjam Chingkheilembi (17) d/o (L) Th Binoy of Yairipok Top, Phanjoubam Rita (17) d/o Ph Loken of Andro Khunou Torongthem, and Loitongbam Athoi (16) d/o Sayon of Yairipok Yambem.

Their lifeless bodies are being kept at JNIMS morgue for post mortem examination.

According to a police report, the students, teachers and staff of the School were on an excursion tour to Khoupum on Wednesday.

All of the female students were seated in one bus (MN01 2119) and the male students in another bus (MN 012112), along with the assigned teachers and staff in each bus.

Around 11 am, the bus carrying the female students was going down the slope of Tongjel Maril road near Longsai Part-III village, when it crashed into the side of the mountain and tumbled down 35 feet onto the road below, landing upside down.

The accident not only left many of the students, teacher and the bus driver injured, but also caused fatalities to some.

The accident is suspected to have been occurred due to brake failure.

Meanwhile, Khoupum Police has registered a suo moto case to investigate into the accident.

Immediately after the accident occurred, the nearby villages swung into action and carried out a rescue operation to assist the injured and those trapped inside the overturned bus.

Health & Family Welfare minister Dr Sapam Ranjan also visited the accident spot after getting information of the tragedy.

The injured were first transported to Bishnupur District Hospital by ambulances of different hospitals and private vehicles.

After getting first aid, those in serious conditions were taken to Raj Medicity, RIMS hospital and Advanced hospital.

In all, 14 female students were taken to RIMS Hospital.

Among them, 17-yr-old Laishram Veronica of Poiroukhongjin, who sustained critical injuries, is undergoing treatment in the ICU.

Meanwhile, around 25 of the injured, including students, non-teaching staff and the bus driver were taken to Raj Medicity.

Among them, Loitongjam Athoi, Laikhuram Bita, Sharungbam Thajamanbi, Mothang Pemcy, Ngoubi Naorem and Tenning Maring have been admitted to the ICU.

However, Loitongbam Athoi and Laikhuram Bita succumbed to their injuries.

Another injured student is also undergoing treatment at Kripadashini Advanced Hospital & Research Institute, Palace Compound.

Altogether 47 people including the bus driver and his assistants were on board the ill-fated bus.

The deceased warden Yumnam Mitkhubi was accompanied by her son Yumnam Johnson in the school excursion.

While she was killed in the accident, her son Johnson is currently undergoing treatment at Raj Medicity.

According to the assistants, the owner of the bus is the bus driver himself.

After climbing up an incline, the bus was going down when the brake failed and it crashed into the mountain side, before rolling down and landing upside down-on the road below.

This school excursion was the first of Thambalnu Higher Secondary School, which was established only a few years ago.

All the students injured in the accident are studying in Class XI.

On the other hand, Raj Medicity managing director Haobijam Rajen informed that around 25 injured are currently undergoing treatment at the hospital, of which 6 are in serious condition.

The medical team of the hospital are trying their level best to treat them.

He then informed families of the injured not to worry about the medical expenses, adding that the hospital will extend all possible help to the injured.

Meanwhile, CM N Biren, Education minister Th Basanta Kumar, Works minister Govindas Konthoujam and Nungba AC MLA Dinganglung Gangmei visited the injured admitted to the aforementioned hospitals.

They also visited the deceased at JNIMS morgue and shared the grief of the bereaved families.

JNIMS Hospital MS Dr Lokeshor and director Prof L Deben also met and shared the grief of the bereaved families of the deceased, whose lifeless bodies were being kept at JNIMS morgue.

Health minister Dr S Ranjan, who assessed the situation at the site of the accident, expressed grief and sadness over the unfortunate incident.

He also assured of all possible care to those injured and confided that instructions have been given to the officials of the Medical Department for proper care of the accident victims.

He also expressed his gratitude to the villagers for extending voluntary help by saving many lives.

Later, works minister K Govindas as well as education minister Th Basantakumar Singh also visited the accident site.

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