At least six school children and the cab driver died on the spot after the vehicle was hit head-on by a tipper truck coming from the opposite direction in Punjab's Patiala on Wednesday, police said.
Another student, who was onboard the ill-fated school cab, was admitted to a nearby hospital in a critical condition. He is currently admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The driver of the tipper vehicle is absconding.
"A very unfortunate incident has taken place. Seven children and a driver were travelling in an Innova. We received information that six of these children and the driver died. The seventh child is critical," Senior Punjab Police officer, Palwinder Singh Cheema, was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
"This was a head-on collision with the tipper vehicle," he added.
Meanwhile, the police are examining the CCTV footage obtained from nearby areas to ascertain the exact cause of the accident.
Police have also registered a case against an unknown person and promised that the guilty will be brought to justice. Further investigation is underway.
More details are awaited.
