By Xinhua,
New Delhi : A total of 44 died and 12 missing when an Indian transport bus carrying about 50 schoolchildren fell into a main irrigation canal in Gujarat state early Wednesday, local media reported.
The accident occurred at about 6 a.m., 70 km from Vadodara, a district in central Gujarat. Forty-four people including 32 schoolgirls and nine schoolboys died. Searches were underway to trace the 12 other passengers still missing.
People watch an overturned bus after it veered off a bridge and plunged into a canal at Bodeli village, about 170 km (106 miles) south of the western Indian city of Ahmedabad April 16, 2008. The incident occurred on Wednesday, killing at least 44 school children and three adults, police said.
Most of the children were between eight and 10 and were going to appear for an examination, which has been canceled by the state education official. Five of them were rescued and admitted to Vadodara civil hospital.
Local media said soon after the accident locals recovered nine bodies. The other bodies were removed with the help of fire brigade personnel. Many bodies had floated downstream away from the accident site.
People watch as a crane lifts a bus after it veered off a bridge and plunged into a canal at Bodeli village, about 170 km (106 miles) south of the western Indian city of Ahmedabad April 16, 2008.