14 school children injured as autorickshaw turns turtle

Wanaparthy: An overloaded auto-rickshaw lost control and overturned at Annaram village of Pangal mandal in Wanaparthy district, injuring 14 children, among them the condition of five is said to be very critical.

According to eye witnesses, the school students who were standing at Annaram bus stand waiting to board a bus to go to the government school at Pangal mandal headquarters, found an auto going empty. As they were already late for the school, all the school children boarded the auto rickshaw even though there was not enough space.

However, as the auto capacity is only 3-4 persons, the auto driver allowed 12 children. As the auto was overloaded, the driver after moving for about a furlong distance lost control and overturned the auto at a nearby culvert. With this all the 14 students were severely injured while the condition of five students is said to be very critical.

All the students were immediately rushed to Wanaparthy district hospital for treatment. The doctors have informed that eight out of 12 are out of danger while remaining four are in critical condition. Learning about the incident, Jupally Krishna Rao, Minister for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development visited the hospital and expressed his solidarity with the students.