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Etah Road Accident: Over 20 Schoolchildren Feared Dead, 40 Injured in UP

News18.com

First published: January 19, 2017, 10:40 AM IST | Updated: 0 mins ago

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Lucknow: Over twenty schoolchildren were feared dead and 40 others injured in a tragic road accident on Thursday morning in Etah district of Uttar Pradesh.

The accident took place in Aliganj town where a private school bus collided head-on with a speeding truck.

UP DGP Javeed Ahmed said, “School was open against the order of district administration to close schools due to cold. 15 children died. Priority is to rescue trapped children. Rescue operation is underway. Strict action will be taken against the school.”

Tragic road accident in Aliganj Etah. Over 15 school kids feared dead. Rescue of injured ongoing.

— Javeed (@javeeddgpup) January 19, 2017

A rescue team accompanied by locals rushed to the spot and took the injured children to a nearby hospital.

Priority is to rescue trapped children. Rescue operation is underway. Strict action will be taken against the school: UP DGP Javeed Ahmad

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 19, 2017

“Anguished by tragic accident in UP’s Etah. I share the pain of the bereaved families & condole passing away of young children,” PM Narendra Modi wrote on twitter.

He further wrote: “I pray that those injured in the accident in Etah recover at the earliest.”

I pray that those injured in the accident in Etah recover at the earliest: PM Narendra Modi

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 19, 2017

According to police, eight children were killed on the spot, while the rest were declared dead in the hospital.

More than 24 children dead. School was open against the order of district admin to close schools due to cold weather-UP DGP on Etah accident

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 19, 2017