-- Samir Umarye SANQUELIM: At least 12 students from a school at Dodamarg-Maharashtra were injured when a goods carrier rickshaw carrying them fell on its side near Ravindra Bhavan, Sanquelim, on Thursday.
Locals have, however, insisted that they were over 20 students in the overloaded vehicle, which was involve in the accident at about 9.30 am. According to reports, about 50 students from Navadurga High School, Dodamarg, went to Ravindra Bhavan – Sanquelim for an exhibition in two separate vehicles. On a sharp turn near the venue one of the vehicles, which was a goods rickshaw (GA-04-T-4208) carrying 25 students, fell on its side injuring all the students. All the injured were immediately shifted to PHC Sanquelim. All the students were studying in Std VIII to X and were in the age group of 13 to 16 years. Many of them suffered injuries and about nine students had major fractures. Nine of them were shifted to GMC Bambolim. Locals informed Herald that 12 other students were discharged after primary first aid at PHC Sakhali. It was stated that the students in the rickshaw were dancing and enjoying due to which the rickshaw driver lost control over the vehicle on a sharp turn. Sanquelim MLA, Dr Pramod Sawant and SMC councilor Upendra Karpe rushed to the hospital and took stock of the situation. There were two teachers accompanied with the students. "One vehicle was overloaded with boys while the other was carrying girls. The vehicle carrying boys fell on its side, injuring almost everyone, sources from Sanquelim told Herald. Meanwhile, Bicholim police claimed there were just 12 students in the vehicle and also expressed ignorance on whether they were accompanied by teachers or not. “We will inquire with the students tomorrow whether there were any students or not,” replied an officer. The driver, Umesh Surya Talkatkar, was arrested under Section 279 and 337 of IPC and later released on bail. People were surprised as the police had lowered the casualty figures and insisted that there were over 20 students in the ill-fated vehicle. When contacted, PI Shetgaonkar informed Herald that a parent had filed a police complaint stating that 12 students had been injured. “We will ascertain if there were additional injured students during our investigations in the case,” he said. HC Vishnu Gawas is investigating further under the guidance of PI Rupendra Shetgaonkar.