Steering Failure Blamed as Bus Driven Into Tree to Avoid Worse Crash
Bareilly: A school bus carrying 31 children crashed into a roadside tree near Jatau Patti village in Bhojipura on Friday morning after the driver said the vehicle's steering failed, leaving 13 pupils injured, officials said.
Local police and school officials said the incident occurred during the morning commute to Bhojipura. Timing in reports varies slightly: the Circle Officer (Highway), Devesh Singh, put the accident at around 7 am, while the Superintendent of Police (North), Mukesh Chandra Mishra, was cited in one account saying it happened at about 6:30 am.
Immediate response and hospitalisation
Onlookers and residents reached the scene soon after the crash to help evacuate students from the vehicle. The injured children were taken to Ram Murti Medical College for treatment. According to police and hospital updates:
- 13 students sustained injuries.
- 9 received primary treatment and were discharged to their parents.
- 4 remain under medical care; separate reports state that 6 were admitted in a serious condition, with others receiving first aid.
The injured children identified in reporting include Wasif Raza, Sofia, Aksi Noor, Abuzar, Arshad, Aqib, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aslam and Asif Raza, among others. Police said the remaining students are under medical supervision.
Driver, vehicle condition and investigation under way
School management and the bus operator told officials the steering system malfunctioned while the vehicle was moving. The driver, identified by the school as 25-year-old Bhupendra, is reported to have steered the bus into the roadside tree to bring it to a halt and avoid a potentially more serious collision.
“The steering failed while the bus was moving. The driver’s presence of mind helped prevent a major accident. All the children are safe, and those injured are receiving treatment,” school manager Iqbal Ahmed said, according to reporting.
The school manager also denied social-media claims that the bus was driven by a minor, calling that allegation false. Police said they have begun verification checks on the driver's age, driving licence and the vehicle's documents, including the fitness certificate and permit, as well as its mechanical condition. School records have been requested as part of the probe, officials added.
| Detail | Reported |
|---|---|
| Children on bus | 31 |
| Injured | 13 |
| Serious cases (reports vary) | Either 4 still under care or 6 reported seriously admitted |
| Driver | Bhupendra, 25 (as claimed by school) |
Local context and potential regulatory consequences
Bus safety has been an area of scrutiny across Uttar Pradesh, where large numbers of children use hired transport and private operators frequently run routes into peri-urban and rural pockets. Parents of some pupils at the school told media outlets that complaints had previously been made about the condition of the vehicle and about the driver, though school management disputed the claim about an underage driver.
Officials said action will be taken if negligence is established following the police investigation. The probe will consider mechanical inspection results, the vehicle's fitness certification and permit, the driver's licence and age verification, and school records relating to contracts and maintenance schedules.
Superintendent of Police Mukesh Chandra Mishra told reporters that the police were probing the matter and that appropriate action would follow on completion of inquiries.
The incident underlines the wider operational and regulatory challenges in ensuring safe school transport in the region. Any enforcement action or safety recommendations that emerge from the investigation will be of direct interest to families and schools across Bareilly district as authorities assess whether systemic lapses contributed to the crash.
