Rajasthan: 2 students dead, 5 critically injured in school van-SUV collision; SUV driver fled

KOTA: Two girl students were killed on the spot while five others were critically injured when a private school van collided with an SUV near Itawa town, around 80 km from Kota, on Saturday morning, police said.Itawa DSP Shivam Joshi said the accident took place at around 8 am when a school van, carrying 10 to 12 students from Gaita village to a private school in Itawa, lost balance near the town and collided with an SUV heading towards Bundi.

The collision was so severe that both vehicles overturned.The police officer added that eyewitnesses reported the school van lost its balance after a tyre burst.The deceased students have been identified as 15-year-old Tanu Dhakad and 8-year-old Parul Arya.

Tanu was a Class 10 student, and Parul was in Class 4.The police said five critically injured students were admitted to New Medical College Hospital in Kota.The van driver and one passenger in the SUV also sustained injuries and were admitted to a hospital in Itawa. However, the SUV driver fled the scene after the accident.Following the incident, local MLA Chetan Patel visited the hospital, checked on the injured, and consoled the families who lost their children.(With agencies inputs)