The school bus in Dhurwa, Ranchi, on Saturday. Picture by Manik Bose

Ranchi, March 28: A City Ride school bus with 23 Class X students of Saraswati Shishu Vidya Mandir, Dhurwa, headed to a CBSE examination centre failed to negotiate a turn and turned turtle thrice over. The bus conductor Pradeep Kumar died on the spot while four students were critically injured.

The students were to appear for their CBSE science paper at DAV School, Dhurwa, which is about three kilometres from their hostel.

Rakesh Raj, Rajesh Ranjan, Amit Raj and Ashish, are critical and have been admitted to Raj Hospital. However, two students Praghun Kundu and Harsh Kumar, who suffered minor injuries, rushed to the venue to take their examination and went to the hospital only once it was over.

Nitesh Kumar, a student, who escaped unhurt, said they were travelling at a high speed. “Suddenly, a biker was heading towards us. As the driver turned left, the bus turned over thrice below a small bridge. Several of us are hurt,” he said.

Driver Subhash Singh also received injuries and is undergoing treatment.

The principal of Saraswati Shishu Vidya Mandir, K.K. Das, said the residents helped rescue the students.

Officer in-charge of Dhurwa police station Amit Kumar said: “The actual cause of the accident would be ascertained after the investigation. But it appears to be a case of rash driving,” said Kumar.

Parents of the injured students reached the hospital after they were informed about the accident.

“No teacher was accompanying them. Had there been someone from the school, the driver would not have been allowed to drive at a high speed,” said R.P. Bhagat, father of Rakesh Raj, who is in hospital.