Date:10/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/10/stories/2008091061980300.htm

New Delhi

Bus tramples two sisters

Staff Reporter

Were on their way to school

Accident occurred at Jafrabad near Seelampur
It sparked off a violent protest by the locals

NEW DELHI: Two minor sisters were run over by a speeding bus while they were on their way to school at Jafrabad near Seelampur here on Tuesday. The accident sparked off a violent protest by the locals who tired to set the bus on fire.

Nine-year-old Zainab and her seven-year-old sister Zeenat, both students of Zakir Husain Memorial Senior Secondary School, were crossing the road along with their three friends around noon when the chartered bus ran over them. Zainab, who came under the front wheels of the bus, died on the spot, while Zeenat succumbed to her injuries in Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital later.

Angry passers-by and locals gathered at the spot, hurled stones and damaged the bus involved in the accident. Traffic on the road was disrupted for over an hour. The mob also tried to set the bus on fire, but the police reached the spot along with two fire tenders and the situation was brought under control.

The bus driver, Satyender, has been arrested and the bus impounded.

The victims’ father, Zahid Ali, is a tailor in Welcome Colony. “I was working in the shop when a neighbour told me about the accident. I rushed to the spot only to find my daughters lying in a pool of blood. Zainab had died before I reached. I took Zeenat to hospital but she also could not be saved,” said Zahid.