NEW DELHI, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- At least five children have were killed and more than 10 others injured after their school bus fell into a drain in the northern Indian state of Punjab Tuesday, a senior police official said.
"The mishap took place in a village near the city of Amritsar when the driver lost control of the speeding bus. The vehicle, carrying 50 students, was dropping them home after the school day," he said, on condition of anonymity.
While five bodies have been fished out of water by local residents, the injured have been admitted to a private hospital nearby, the official said, adding that the rescue operation is still on and is being overseen by district authorities.
A probe has been ordered into the incident though it seems to be due to the fault of the school bus driver, the official said.
More than 150,000 people were killed in road accidents in India every year, according to official figures, and most of the incidents are due to overspeeding or drunk driving.
