Sambalpur: In an unfortunate incident, as many as seven school children sustained critical injuries after the auto-rickshaw they were traveling by met with an accident at Sakhipada area in this district Tuesday afternoon.
As the condition of two of the injured students, who suffered head injuries, turned critical, they were shifted to Burla-based VSS Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) for further treatment.
The other five students suffered minor injuries and were released after primary treatment at the Sadar government hospital and are said to be out of danger.
All the students are studying Classes between I and X and were returning home after school in the auto-rickshaw, when the accident took place.
According to locals, the auto-rickshaw was plying at normal speed. It was coming towards Sakhipada when a scooty rider, coming from the opposite direction, came in the middle of the vehicle.
In bid to avoid the accident, the auto driver lost control following of the vehicle and it overturned. The driver also sustained injuries in the mishap, sources said.
Passers-by rescued the kids and took them to Sadar Medical Hospital by an ambulance after which their parents were informed about the mishap.
The injured students were identified as Namita Kerketa, Ansupa Bhoi, Payak Kerketa, Elikenta Soren and Pragyan Jasmin. The critical were Soham Gokhura (Class IV) and Pratyush Sahu (Class V).
Cops from the Dhanupali police station reached the spot and seized the auto-rickshaw and a probe into the incident was launched.
This is the second such incident involving auto-rickshaws ferrying school students in last one month in Sambalpur town. Fortunately, none of the accidents was fatal.
PNN