32 children, a teacher hospitalised after school van accident in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram

At least 32 students and one teacher were hospitalised, at least 10 of them with minor injuries, after a van in which they were travelling to school almost keeled over into a precipitous drop at Malamukal on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, at 9.45 a.m. on Monday (August 18, 2025). 

The incident has raised serious questions about the safety of transporting children to schools, especially in crowded private vans, cars and autorickshaws. 

General Education Minister V. Sivankutty visited the injured children at the hospital. Later, he told reporters that the students were safe and there was no cause for worry. However, Mr. Sivankutty was highly critical of the school management banning private vehicles from dropping children inside the school precincts, a safe zone. He said the management allowed only its buses on the campus. 

Mr. Sivankutty has ordered an enquiry.

The Motor Vehicles department would evaluate the vehicles’ condition and the driver’s skill.

The police have also registered a case.