CUTTACK: At least one student died, and 20 others sustained injuries after a van carrying school students to a Republic Day parade venue overturned in the Banki area of Cuttack district, Odisha, on Sunday.
The deceased has been identified as Soumyaranjan Behera, a Class X student, according to police sources.
Cuttack district collector Dattatraya Bhausaheb Shinde has ordered an investigation into the incident.
An financial aid of Rs 25,000 has been announced from the Red Cross fund to support the deceased’s family.
“We will try to find out the circumstances leading to the accident. The injured students are being treated in Athagarh and Cuttack hospitals, and they are out of danger,” Shinde said.
The police have taken the van driver into custody for interrogation.
According to police reports, the van was carrying nearly 25 students from Malaviharapur High School to a parade ground near Ansupa Lake for Republic Day celebrations when the accident occurred.
The state govt announced Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia compensation to the next of the kin of the deceased and Rs 30,000 for each injured student.
School and mass education secretary Shalini Pandit met the injured students at SCB medical college and hospital in Cuttack. The school’s headmaster has been suspended for negligence.
