An eight-year-old girl was killed, and 16 others were injured after a private bus allegedly lost control and veered into a roadside field near Hubballi in Karnataka early on Thursday, news agency Press Trust of India reported, citing police.
The bus, travelling from Mumbai to Bengaluru, was carrying 26 passengers. The driver was among those injured, and 16 people are undergoing treatment.
The accident occurred around 3 am, shortly after the bus crossed Chabbi Cross. Police said the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle, causing it to leave the road and enter a field.
The impact left the driver's leg trapped inside the bus, according to police. He was in severe pain as he tried to free himself. Police personnel and fire and emergency services staff reached the spot and carried out a rescue operation to extricate him, PTI reported.
Superintendent of Police Gunjan Arya visited KIMS Hospital in Hubballi to enquire about the condition of the injured. He later told the media that the accident took place near Chabbi Bridge and was allegedly caused by overspeeding.
Arya said the bus reportedly bounced while travelling at high speed, leading to the accident. He confirmed that the eight-year-old girl had died, several others were injured, and 16 people were receiving treatment.
KIMS Hospital Medical Superintendent Ishwar Hasabi told PTI that the girl had suffered a severe head injury and was declared dead on arrival at the hospital. He said some passengers with minor injuries had been discharged after treatment, while the others continued to receive medical care.
In all, the accident involving the Mumbai-Bengaluru private bus left the eight-year-old girl dead and several people injured, with police attributing the crash near Hubballi to alleged overspeeding and loss of control.
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