The school bus that caused the death of pre-school children in Idukki on Wednesday. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
A four-year-old nursery school student was killed and another student injured after being run over by a school bus at Vazhathope near Cheruthoni in Idukki on Wednesday (November 19, 2025). The deceased was identified as Heisel Ben, daughter of Ben Johnson and Jeevaa and a resident of Vazhathope.
According to the police, the incident took place around 9 am at Giri Jyothi CMI Public School. After the bus dropped the students off in front of the school, they walked towards the back of the vehicle to go to a classroom on the opposite side of the ground. The driver of another school bus, which was right behind him, started the vehicle and hit the children. Heisel Ben died at the scene.
Another student Inaya Thehsin, three years old, sustained serious injuries in the accident and was admitted to the Government Medical College Hospital in Idukki where she underwent surgery.
According to officials, the two students were accidentally trapped in front of the bus. The police registered the case and started an investigation. They secured the bus and arrested the driver. Motor vehicle department personnel inspected the bus.
After the autopsy, the body was handed over to the relatives. The funeral will be held on Thursday at 11 a.m. in the Cathedral of St. George in Vazhathope.
School director Fr. Jomy Padinjareputhanpurayil said a security officer and two other staff were on duty on Wednesday to ensure the safety of the children. “The management will check whether there was any misconduct on the part of the officials,” he said. Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) president Siby George said the school will provide counseling to all students following the tragic incident.
Published – 19 Nov 2025 20:06 IST
