Manipur: Seven Students Dead In Bus Accident In Noney. PM Modi Announces Rs 2 Lakh Ex Gratia

According to officials, the injured students were being transported to the state capital for treatment.

Screengrab of video of Manipur school bus accident

Source : Twitter/@NBirenSingh

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief over the deaths of students in a school bus accident in the Noney district of Manipur and announced that each student's family would receive Rs 2 lakh ex gratia on Wednesday, reported news agency PTI. On Wednesday, a school bus overturned in the Noney district, resulting in the deaths of seven students and severe injuries to over 25 others, according to police.

"Anguished by the loss of lives in Manipur's Noney district due to a tragic bus accident. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. I hope the injured recover soon," Modi was quoted as saying in a tweet by his office.  The Manipur government is providing all possible assistance to those affected, he said.

"An ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF (Prime Minister's National Relief Fund) would be given to the next of kin of each deceased in the bus accident. The injured would be given Rs 50,000," the prime minister said.

The police said that the incident occurred 55 kilometers from the state capital of Imphal on Old Cachar Road near the Longsai area of the hill district.

Two buses carried the Thambalnu Higher Secondary School students on their annual school study tour to the Noney district town of Khoupum. According to police, the driver lost control of the bus that the girl students were riding in, causing it to tip over.

"Deeply saddened to hear about the accident of a bus carrying school children at the Old Cachar Road today. SDRF, Medical team and MLAs have rushed to the site to coordinate the rescue operation. Praying for the safety of everyone in the bus," he said in his tweet, sharing the video of the tragedy.

Deeply saddened to hear about the accident of a bus carrying school children at the Old Cachar Road today. SDRF, Medical team and MLAs have rushed to the site to coordinate the rescue operation.

Praying for the safety of everyone in the bus.@PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/whbIsNCSxO

— N.Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) December 21, 2022

According to initial reports, the accident occurred as two buses carrying students from Thambalnu Higher Secondary School, Yaripok were traveling on a study tour toward Khoupum.

According to officials, the injured students were being transported to the state capital for treatment.

Earlier on Monday, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has directed the district administration officials to ensure that road safety measures are in place to reduce accidents by at least 20% in the upcoming year.

He went over the steps taken to enforce road safety and the status of Orunodoi, the state government's flagship program, on Monday.

In Guwhati, the Chief Minister met with Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police, and other high-ranking officials via video conference.

Sarma instructed the DCs and SPs to vigorously enforce road safety protocols, stressing the significance of strict road safety measures to reduce fatalities. He asked them to take action against bike stunts, speeding, and drunk driving, as well as to increase patrols on important state roads and the National Highway.

The Chief Minister urged the districts to set a goal of reducing accidents by at least 20% in the coming year in a call for an "accident-free New Year."