RUDRAPUR: At least two dozen people, including 22 school children and their teacher, sustained injuries when a truck rammed into a school bus near Bigrabagh in Khatima town of Udham Singh Nagar district on Sunday. The bus was allegedly carrying the kids to CM Pushkar Singh Dhami‘s rally at Khatima’s Chatiya Farm.
Congress pounced on the issue, alleging that Election Commission’s model code of conduct prohibits the use of school children in political campaigns and rallies.
The injured were taken to a nearby hospital. Dr B P Singh, the hospital medical superintendent, said “All the injured are stable, and we are monitoring their health.”
While opposition parties said the bus, belonging to Nosegaye Public School, was ferrying students to the rally in support of BJP’s Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar candidate Ajay Bhatt, EC officials dismissed the allegation.
Bhuvan Kapri, Congress MLA from Khatima and deputy leader of opposition in the assembly, said the bus was among the 103 listed for transporting attendees to the rally. “Our children’s safety must be our priority. I cross-checked the bus’s registration number with the list of those designated for CM’s event, and this bus was part of the convoy. I will address this issue in the assembly to ensure preventive measures are taken,” Kapri said.
Dhami visited the hospital to check on the injured. “I am deeply saddened by this unfortunate accident,” he said.
Congress pounced on the issue, alleging that Election Commission’s model code of conduct prohibits the use of school children in political campaigns and rallies.
The injured were taken to a nearby hospital. Dr B P Singh, the hospital medical superintendent, said “All the injured are stable, and we are monitoring their health.”
While opposition parties said the bus, belonging to Nosegaye Public School, was ferrying students to the rally in support of BJP’s Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar candidate Ajay Bhatt, EC officials dismissed the allegation.
Bhuvan Kapri, Congress MLA from Khatima and deputy leader of opposition in the assembly, said the bus was among the 103 listed for transporting attendees to the rally. “Our children’s safety must be our priority. I cross-checked the bus’s registration number with the list of those designated for CM’s event, and this bus was part of the convoy. I will address this issue in the assembly to ensure preventive measures are taken,” Kapri said.
Dhami visited the hospital to check on the injured. “I am deeply saddened by this unfortunate accident,” he said.
