Bihar School Van Accident: 9-Year-Old Girl Dies, 12 Students Injured in Nawada

April 13, 2026

Patna: A nine-year-old girl died and more than a dozen other children were injured when a school van overturned in Bihar’s Nawada district on Monday morning, police said.

The accident occurred around 8:15 a.m. on Kamalapur Road in Govindpur block, where the vehicle reportedly went out of control, fell about 20 feet off the road, and overturned several times.

Villagers Played a Key Role in Rescue

According to eyewitnesses, the van overturned several times before stopping, causing chaos at the scene. Villagers harvesting wheat in nearby fields heard the noise and rushed to the scene, pulling the children out and taking them to the hospital.

According to the police, Aarohi Kumari (9) died in the accident, while two other children remain in critical condition. The other injured children are undergoing treatment.

Overloading and driver negligence suspected

Preliminary investigations revealed that the vehicle belonged to a private school. Locals allege that the van was overloaded. While the vehicle’s capacity was 15, there were more than 25 children on board.

Eyewitnesses also reported that the driver was intoxicated and driving at high speed, which could have caused the accident.

Police action and investigation underway

Police have arrived at the scene and launched an investigation. The condition of the vehicle, the driver’s role, and compliance with safety regulations are being investigated.

Nawada police have arrested the accused driver and an FIR has been registered against him at the Govindpur police station under sections of negligent driving. The driver will also undergo a medical examination.

Local residents are outraged by the incident and are demanding strict action against the school administration. They have stressed the need to implement strict safety rules to prevent such accidents in the future.