An Accident

"Better late than never" "Safety saves". 

"Accidents take place where safety ends." Such mottos are seen written on the highways. But nobody obeys them. These mottos convey a great message--we should be cautious. Bus accidents are very common these days. Of late their number is on the increase. They result in the loss of human lives. In almost all cases they occur due to reckless driving. Drivers get drunk and rules of the road are disobeyed, resulting in fatal accidents.

It was Sunday. Our school had arranged for an outing. . All the senior boys and girls were going out to enjoy a picnic.

Classes X, XI, and XII were to be taken out. There were three buses which were carrying all the students and staff concerned. The buses started from our school at 9 a.m. The boys began to sing. After a few minutes, I saw a truck coming from the opposite direction. It was loaded with bricks and was running unsteadily.

Suddenly, the truck driver took a big turn. Our driver blew the horn and tried to avoid the accident but it all in vain. The truck struck our bus. Our bus turned turtle. There were a great hue and cry. Most of the boys were badly hurt. The bus driver lay in a pool of blood. It was a very touching sight. The engine was smashed badly. A large crowd gathered there.

The people helped the boys to come out of the bus. By and by all boys were taken out. None was seriously wounded. But our bus driver was killed on the spot. His dead body was taken out from the bus. The police came and arrested the truck driver. He was still in a state of intoxication. The doctors were killed in and first aid was given to the injured students. Some teachers were also wounded. But we all came home.

Everyone was worried to listen about the accident. My parents were very much upset. When I met them they embraced me lovingly. It was a terrible accident which I never forget in my life.

The memory of the accident had a very fearful effect on me. Later whenever I traveled on a bus I had always a bad thought of an accident in my mind. This continued for a long time, but now I have overcome it.