Published Jan 04, 2024 | 7:28 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 04, 2024 | 7:29 PM
(Representational image)
In a heart-wrenching incident, a girl — aged one year and seven months — lost her life in the Habsiguda area of Hyderabad after being hit by a private school bus around 8.30 am on Thursday, 4 January.
Osmania Police Station Police Inspector (PI) P Anjaneyulu told South First, “We have arrested the driver of the private school bus.”
He added: “The parents of the child raised concerns about the helper on the bus as well, claiming he did not direct the driver.”
He also said: “A case under Section 304 (A) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered. We are investigating the case.”
The parents told South First they were not in a condition to speak for long, but sought justice for whoever stood to be proven guilty.
The bus and marks of Police during investigation (Supplied)
Midhun G Parackal (34), the father of the toddler an IT employee residing in the Ravindra Nagar Colony, gave a complaint to the police at 9.30 am on Thursday. The cops registered an FIR based on this complaint.
In it, Parackal said he and his wife Rosamma Anthony and two children — son George Midhun Parackal (five) and daughter Jewel Anna Midhun (one year seven months), had been living in their residence for the past four years.
The couple — both employed in the IT sector — had hired a caretaker named Kousalya to look after their daughter.
On Thursday, Parackal handed over his daughter to the caretaker and was with his son at the school bus stop.
The school bus, with registration number TS-08-UK-1736, arrived between 8 am and 8.15 am, as per routine, and he sent his son onto the bus. He then informed the driver about their plans to leave for their native place after a week.
Moments after the bus departed, Parackal heard kids shouting for help and rushed to find that his daughter had fallen on the road with a head injury.
Caretaker Kousalya explained that the toddler had strayed near the gate while playing. At the same time, the school bus went forward and the front left tire of the bus hit the girl.
Kousalya said the girl fell on the road and the back left tire of the bus went over the head of the girl.
The parents took the child to Apollo Hospital in Secunderabad, where she was declared dead.
Parackal urged the police to take necessary action against the bus driver, Md Imthiyaz (41), and helper, M Rani.
The family also protested near the school and asked the authorities to take action while hiring the drivers.
