Dumka: A speeding school bus with around 35 students on board hit three vehicles on Tuesday morning in Deoghar district, killing a 37-year-old man on the spot. The incident occurred near Bampaas under Town police station. The deceased, Alok Singh, a civil engineer, who was on a two-wheeler, was on his way to drop his four-year-old son Anand to school when the incident took place. The child also sustained injuries and is under treatment at Sadar Hospital. He is currently out of danger. Two more were injured and are under treatment. The children on board the bus are safe and taken to school in another vehicle. The bus belonged to St Xavier’s School, but the management could not be contacted for a comment as their numbers were either switched off or out of order. “Both father and son fell after the bus hit their two-wheeler,” said a witness, adding that the bus driver looked minor. People staged a demonstration and vandalised the bus at the busy Bampaas Town after the incident.SDO (civil) of Deoghar, Ravi Kumar, said an FIR in this connection was lodged. The driver of the bus has been detained. When asked if the driver is a minor, the SDO said that he could not produce licence when demanded by the police. “The matter is being investigated.” Before the bike, the bus also hit an e-rickshaw and a car. “The driver seemingly lost control of the bus, which would have fallen beneath the bridge had it not stopped after hitting the car,” said witnesses. SDO (civil) of Deoghar, Ravi Kumar, said that the district administration took serious cognisance of the incident. “The district transport officer (DTO) has been directed to undertake a drive for the assessment of the fitness of the school buses and other vehicles being used to transport children of all the private schools and take stern action against the offenders,” Kumar said.
