Narrow escape for 50 Indira school students on joyride in tractor trolley

PUNE: A group of 50 standard VI students from Indira National School in Wakad, who went on a picnic to a destination on Kondhwa-Saswad Road, escaped narrowly when the trolley of a tractor they were sitting in for a joyride fell on its side in the field after making a sharp turn.

The accident took place at 1.30pm on Friday. All 50 students were taken to a local hospital by ambulances requisitioned through 108 emergency response service.

Some children sustained bruises and fractures. Most were administered first aid and discharged. Five students, who were in shock, and have sustained minor fractures have been admitted to Poona Hospital's intensive care unit and kept under observation.

"All 50 students were crammed into a single trolley. This shows the lax approach on part of the school's administration," a parent, who refused to come on record, said.

A student, who was discharged after first-aid, said, "All of us were sitting in the trolley attached to the tractor. The vehicle was speeding. The driver made a sharp turn and the trolley in which we were sitting turned on its side. Fortunately, none of us came under the wheels or its railings."

Some were discharged after first aid. "Twenty-one students were shifted to Poona Hospital around 5pm. Most had bruises and abrasions. Only five sustained minor fractures on their hands and legs. They are being monitored in the ICU, " a doctor from the hospital said.

Entrepreneur Tarita Mehendale, who runs Indira National School, was present at the hospital when TOI met some parents and the students. She refused to talk about the accident.

Inspector of Saswad police station Krantikumar Patil said a team visited the picnic spot after they received information about the accident. "We did not find any vehicle at the spot. The school or an authority from the picnic destination should have immediately alerted us about the accident," Patil said.