Many school students killed after study tour bus meets accident in Manipur

Several school children were feared dead in a road accident that took place at Khoupum area in Noney district of the north-eastern Indian state of Manipur on Wednesday (21), police said.

The death toll could go up, they added.

A number of students died on the spot after sustaining injuries while the injured were rushed to nearby hospitals and health care centres where they were receiving treatment.

The tragedy took place when a bus carrying around 36 students and staff members of Thambalnu Higher Secondary School in Manipur's Yairipok met an accident and overturned at Nungsai village, located around 50 kilometres south west of state capital Imphal around 11 am.

The bus was heading towards Khoupum on a study tour.

A senior official from Noney district said there were no confirmed reports about the exact number of casualties and that they could rise.

Manipur health and family welfare minister Dr Sapam Ranjan Singh, who also holds the information and public relations portfolio, visited the accident site along with officials. 

PM Modi expresses anguish

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi Wednesday expressed anguish over tragedy and announced Rs 2 lakh (£1,999) ex gratia to the kin of each deceased.

"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 (£500)," the prime minister said.

[With PTI inputs]