School Bus Falls into Roadside Ditch Near Manipal; Seven Students Injured

A school bus returning from a field trip plummeted into a roadside ditch near Manipal, leaving seven students injured and prompting an emergency response from local authorities.

The incident occurred on the NH66 corridor, a busy stretch that connects Udupi to Mangaluru. Eyewitnesses reported that the bus, overloaded with students, had a sudden brake failure before it fell into the ditch. School officials confirmed that the students sustained bruises and cuts but are expected to recover with medical treatment.

Local police and the district transport office are investigating the cause of the accident and will review the bus’s maintenance records. The incident has raised concerns over road safety and the adequacy of safety measures for school transport in the region.