Two kids, helper die as school van falls in pond

Two children and a helper employed at their pre-school died after the school van they were travelling in skidded off the road and fell into a temple pond on Kattithara Road in Maradu, near Kochi, on Monday.

The deceased were identified as Adityan (4) and Vidyalakshmi (4) — both students at the Kidz World Pre-School in Maradu — and Latha Unni, an employee, at the school.

Eight children were in the bus when the incident happened, at about 3.30 pm. The two children and Latha were declared dead at a private hospital.

The driver of the bus and another child have also been hospitalised with the condition of the driver reported as critical.

Preliminary reports said a bigger tragedy was averted because residents of the area commenced rescue efforts immediately after the incident.

Local residents, including women, helped five of the children out of the pond.

Residents were quoted by television channels as saying that the absence of fencing around the temple pond and the slippery road could have led to the accident.