Greater Noida: 4 Children Injured After School Bus Hits Tree While Trying to Avoid Head-On Collision

Close Call in Greater Noida: Four Children Injured as School Bus Swerves into Tree to Avoid Head-On Collision

Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh — In what could have turned into a far more tragic incident, four schoolchildren sustained injuries on Thursday morning when their school bus veered off the road and crashed into a tree in a desperate attempt to avoid a head-on collision with a speeding vehicle. The incident took place in the Surajpur area of Greater Noida and has once again raised serious concerns about road safety, especially when it involves school transport.

Thanks to the alertness and quick reflexes of the bus driver, a major disaster was averted. The driver, identified as 38-year-old Suresh Pal, managed to avoid a direct collision with an oncoming vehicle but lost control in the process, causing the bus to crash into a large neem tree on the side of the road. The bus was carrying 17 students from a private school located in Sector 36 of Greater Noida.

Four children, all aged between 8 and 12, sustained minor to moderate injuries and were immediately taken to a nearby hospital. They are currently out of danger, doctors confirmed.

The Incident: A Morning Ride Gone Wrong

It was a typical morning route for Suresh, who has been driving the school bus for over seven years. At around 7:45 a.m., the yellow bus, filled with chattering schoolchildren, was making its way down a narrow stretch of road in Surajpur when a white SUV, reportedly traveling at high speed from the opposite direction, suddenly appeared on the same lane while attempting to overtake another vehicle.

“There was no time to think,” Suresh recounted later at the hospital. “If I hadn’t swerved, we would’ve hit that SUV head-on. The children’s lives were at stake.”

In an instinctive move, he steered the bus toward the left edge of the road, where it crashed into a tree, causing the windshield to shatter and the front of the vehicle to crumple. Fortunately, most of the impact was absorbed by the front end of the bus, away from where the children were seated.

The SUV did not stop after the near-collision and fled the scene, according to eyewitnesses. Police have since launched a search for the driver, using CCTV footage from the surrounding areas.

Emergency Response and Medical Attention

Locals who witnessed the crash rushed to the scene and helped the children exit the damaged vehicle. The school authorities and parents were immediately notified. An ambulance arrived within 20 minutes, and the four injured children were taken to Kailash Hospital in Greater Noida.

Dr. Rachita Menon, who treated the students, said, “They sustained superficial injuries—cuts, bruises, and in one case, a minor fracture. Thankfully, there was no internal trauma or head injury. We’re keeping them under observation for 24 hours.”

The other students, though unharmed physically, were understandably shaken. Many were in tears, clutching their schoolbags as they recounted the frightening moment of impact. School counselors have been called in to help the children process the experience.

Parents React: Relief Mixed with Anger

As news of the incident spread, concerned parents gathered outside the hospital and the school, many expressing both relief and frustration.

“I’m thankful my daughter is safe, but what if the bus had overturned?” said Nikhil Gupta, father of a 10-year-old student. “This is a nightmare scenario. The government must take immediate action to control reckless driving on these roads.”

Others questioned why no patrol vehicles were monitoring high-speed driving during school hours, especially on routes known to be frequented by school transport.

Many parents expressed gratitude for the driver’s quick action. “He acted heroically. He put the children’s safety before his own,” said Reena Sharma, whose son was on the bus. “But how long can we depend on drivers being miracle workers when the roads are this dangerous?”

The Driver’s Perspective

Suresh Pal suffered minor injuries to his shoulder and arm but refused to be admitted to the hospital until all the children were safely treated.

“I only did what any responsible driver would do,” he said, his voice trembling as he described the moment. “These kids are like my own. Every parent entrusts me with their child each morning. I could never forgive myself if something happened to them.”

Suresh, a father of two, has worked with the school since 2017 and has maintained a spotless driving record. School authorities later confirmed he had undergone all required safety training and checks, including routine vehicle inspections.

Police Investigation Underway

An FIR has been registered at the Surajpur Police Station against an unknown vehicle under sections pertaining to rash and negligent driving, hit-and-run, and endangering the lives of children.

“We have obtained footage from CCTV cameras on the road and are working to identify the vehicle,” said ACP Vishal Yadav. “It’s a white SUV, likely a Toyota Fortuner or similar model. We are also speaking to nearby shopkeepers and residents who may have seen the vehicle before or after the incident.”

Police have also reached out to toll plazas and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems in surrounding areas to trace the car.

“We will ensure the culprit is brought to justice,” added Yadav.

School Safety Under the Spotlight

This incident has reignited the conversation around school transportation safety, not only in Greater Noida but across urban and semi-urban India. While many schools contract private operators for buses, safety regulations are often poorly enforced. Overcrowding, outdated vehicles, and inadequate driver vetting are persistent concerns.

The school involved in this incident issued a statement later in the day:

“We are deeply shocked by this unfortunate event and grateful that our students are safe. We are reviewing our transportation protocols and cooperating fully with authorities. Counseling and medical support have been made available to all affected students.”

Education department officials from Gautam Buddh Nagar district visited the school later in the afternoon and began a preliminary audit of the school's transportation procedures. The Regional Transport Office (RTO) has also been asked to inspect all school buses operating in the area for compliance with safety norms.

Experts Call for Broader Reforms

Transportation and child safety experts have emphasized the urgent need for systemic reforms.

“We cannot treat each incident in isolation. There must be mandatory speed limits on all school routes, GPS tracking for school buses, and training for drivers in emergency handling,” said Vivek Sharma, a road safety expert and advisor to the Ministry of Road Transport.

He added that municipalities should consider designating “safe zones” or “school corridors” with strict surveillance during peak hours, something already in practice in parts of South India.

“Reckless driving around schools should be penalized as harshly as drunk driving,” Sharma said. “Lives are at stake, and we cannot continue to be complacent.”

A Call for Civic Responsibility

Beyond legal action and safety measures, many believe the incident points to a deeper societal issue: a lack of civic responsibility on the roads.

“We see it every day—drivers speeding, overtaking dangerously, ignoring signals,” said local resident Shweta Nair, who lives close to where the accident occurred. “Why should children pay the price for someone else's ego or hurry?”

She and other residents have now started a petition demanding better road monitoring, installation of speed breakers near school zones, and regular patrolling during school commute hours.

Conclusion: A Close Call, A Loud Wake-Up Call

The children injured in the accident are recovering, but the emotional scars of that morning ride may take longer to heal. For the families involved, and indeed for the community at large, this incident serves as a reminder that road safety is not just a matter of traffic rules—it's a matter of life and death, especially when it involves the youngest and most vulnerable among us.

As Greater Noida reels from what could have been a tragedy, the spotlight now turns to authorities, educators, and drivers alike to ensure that such a close call doesn’t repeat itself with a different ending.