Puducherry:
A 12-year-old girl was killed and at least 30 school children were injured on Monday when the bus in which they were travelling overturned and got stuck in slush at a village near Puducherry, police said.
Several children were rescued by locals.
The children were students of the government school at Manamedu.
Police said the injured have been hospitalised.
Puducherry Education Minister P M L Kalyanasundaram and Local Administration Minister N G Panneerselvam visited the children admitted to the hospital.
Kalyanasundaram told reporters an inquiry has been ordered into the mishap.
The bus, which was stuck in the slush after it turned turtle, was lifted with the help of a crane.
The driver is absconding, police said, adding, some injured were admitted to a hospital in Cuddalore.
Parents complained that the bus was carrying more than its permitted capacity. It was a contract vehicle engaged for the transport of children under the government's 'free transport scheme'.