A UP School Ignored Orders To Remain Closed. 13 Students Died En Route

Etah, Uttar Pradesh: At least 13 children were killed and two dozen more injured when a school bus collided with a truck in  Uttar Pradesh this morning. The crash in Etah, nearly 300 kilometres from the state capital of Lucknow, took place as the children, between the ages of 3  and 12, were headed to school. The driver of the bus also died in the crash, the latest deadly accident in a country with one of the worst road safety records in the world.

The truck that was involved in the accident was loaded with sand and was speeding, Javed Ahmed, Director General of Police in Uttar Pradesh told news agency Associated Press.

Another police officer, Daljeet Singh, said there was dense fog which sharply reduced visibility at the time of the crash. Police officer Parasuram Singh said the truck driver suffered serious injuries in his legs, which were amputated in a hospital.  All schools in the area had been ordered to remain closed on account of a cold wave, and the police chief said he will investigate why the school was open today.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted his condolences, saying: "Anguished by tragic accident in UP's Etah. I share the pain of the bereaved families & condole (the) passing away of young children."