In a tragic incident, at least 25 school children (between age seven to ten years) died on Thursday in a road accident in Uttar Pradesh's Etah district.
Another 30 children who were injured were taken to the district hospital.
The school bus in which the children were travelling to their school was hit by a speeding truck on Patiali road in Aliganj.
Fog was the main cause of the accident, an official at the spot told IANS.
While schools in the state have been closed until Friday due to poor weather conditions, the JS Public school to which the bus belonged was functioning. The bus had more than 60 students.
Speaking to TV channels, the police said that they will launch an investigation on why the school was functioning when a government order had asked all schools to remain shut till Friday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his anguish over the accident.
I pray that those injured in the accident in Etah recover at the earliest.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 19, 2017
Anguished by the tragic accident in UP’s Etah district. I share the pain of the bereaved families & condole passing away of young children.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 19, 2017
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(IANS inputs)