PALAKKAD: The teachers and students of Ernakulam Mulanthuruthy Vettikal Mar Baselious Vidya Niketan School are still in shock following the accident that claimed the lives of nine. The journey that started with much happiness and even more hope turned into a major disaster. The students that survived are unable to accept the fact that their friends and beloved teacher, who were with them are no longer with them.

The decision was to leave school at around 5 pm last evening. However, they started only at 7 pm after the bus came late. The teachers were giving instructions to the students from the start of the journey. The use of mobile phone was controlled and the journey was planned accordingly. There were five teachers and 42 students in the bus. 24 of them were students of tenth class and others were plus two students.

The students that survived said the vehicle was in high speed from the time it started. The vehicle which was at a speed of 70-80 km per hour in the beginning was at a speed of 97.7 kmph at the time of the accident. They said when they reminded the driver about the speed, his reply was that he was an experienced one. The tourist bus came there after causing fear to other vehicles. When it was trying to overtake a vehicle, rammed into the rear of a KSRTC bus at 12.30 am.

The high speeded tourist bus after ramming at the rear of the KSRTC bus overturned and landed in a marshy area. The accident happened when it was trying to overtake the KSRTC bus. In the impact, a part of the KSRTC bus went inside the tourist bus.

Rescue operations started immediately. However, efforts to take out those in the tourist bus was a difficult task. Many were taken out after cutting large chunks of the metal. Some died on the spot itself. Many in the KSRTC bus fell on the road. When someone showed hands, the KSRTC bus applied a brake. Though the tourist bus which was behind applied brake, it couldn’t stop, said Sudheesh and Jijo, who were engaged in rescue operations.

Nine were killed in the accident. Their inquest proceedings have been completed. Among the dead, five were students and one is Vishnu (33), a sports teacher of the school. The students dead are Emmanuel C S (17), Elna Jose (15), Anjana Ajith (17), Dia Rajesh (15) and Chris Winterborne Thomas (15). The other three dead were passengers of KSRTC bus. National basketball star Rohit Raj was also among the passengers of the KSRTC bus who died. The school authorities said the bodies of the teacher and students will be kept for public homage. Of the 38 injured, four are in serious condition but are out of danger.

Anjana will not return with her mother
Plus Two student Anjana and her mother Asha, her class teacher, came to the school to go for the excursion after a trip to Guruvayoor with their family. They reached the school after dropping Anjana's younger sister at their house in Edapally. However, Anjana will no longer be there to meet her sister who happily saw them off. Anjana's body will be brought to the school after post-mortem at Palakkad District Hospital. Asha, who sustained injuries is out of danger.