School van plunges into uncovered water project pit near Rainbow Colony in Kottoor

A school van carrying over 30 students fell into an uncovered pit dug for the 2.0 drinking water project near Rainbow Colony in Kottoor, Pollachi. The incident occurred on July 25, highlighting the dangers of incomplete infrastructure work.


Coimbatore: A school van carrying over 30 students plunged into an uncovered pit dug for a water project near Rainbow Colony in Kottoor, Pollachi, on the morning of July 25. The incident has raised concerns about the safety hazards posed by incomplete infrastructure work in the area.

The Kottoor Town Panchayat, comprising 21 wards, has been implementing the 2.0 drinking water project. As part of this initiative, excavation work for laying water pipes has been ongoing in most parts of the town. However, residents claim that the pits dug for this purpose have not been properly covered, leaving the roads in a dangerous condition.

According to local sources, residents had previously complained to the Town Panchayat President, Ramakrishnan, about the hazardous road conditions. However, they allege that their concerns were met with negligence.

The incident occurred when a school van from R.K.R. Gnanodaya Higher Secondary School, carrying more than 30 students, was navigating a turn near Rainbow Colony. The rear wheel of the van got caught in one of the uncovered pits, causing the vehicle to tilt to its left side. The trapped students screamed in panic, alerting nearby residents who rushed to their aid. With the help of local people, all the students were safely rescued, and the van was subsequently pulled out of the pit.

In the aftermath of the incident, area residents have expressed their concerns about the ongoing danger posed by these uncovered pits. They fear that such accidents may recur if prompt action is not taken. The community has urged authorities to complete the water project work properly and ensure all excavated areas are safely covered to prevent further incidents.

This event has highlighted the need for better oversight and quicker completion of infrastructure projects to ensure public safety, especially in areas frequented by school vehicles and pedestrians.

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