MEERUT: At least 10 children were injured on Wednesday morning when a school bus carrying around 35 students from St. Mary’s Academy in Kheri Tappa village overturned into a roadside ditch near the Kali river in Daurala at around 7.30 am. The accident caused panic and chaos at the scene, with children trapped inside the bus and locals rushing in to help. Trapped inside the bus, children cried for help as locals rushed in, breaking windows to rescue them. Several students were stuck between seats and had to be pulled out with difficulty. The injured were quickly taken to nearby hospitals by bikes and ambulances. Doctors confirmed that most injuries were minor and all children are now out of danger. Meanwhile, anxious parents arrived at hospitals and the school, protesting against the administration and raising slogans. Serious allegations have been levelled against the driver, who fled the scene. Some parents claimed he was intoxicated, while others alleged he was using a mobile phone at the time of the crash. However, the school management stated that the driver lost control while trying to avoid a truck. According to SP City Ayush Vikram Singh, preliminary findings indicate the driver appears to be at fault. Authorities are searching for him, and an investigation has been launched into the bus’s fitness and overall safety compliance.