A speeding truck collided with a school bus in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, resulting in the death of one student and injuries to more than two dozen others.

The incident occurred on Thursday morning at the Bhouri Bypass, located on the outskirts of the state capital.

The bus was transporting students from a private school who were returning from a visit to the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER). Reports indicate that the bus was traveling at a normal speed when the truck, allegedly moving at high speed, struck it from behind.

The collision caused substantial damage to the rear of the bus, causing many students to be thrown from their seats and sustain injuries. Passersby and local residents quickly rushed to assist, helping the injured students while emergency services were contacted.

“A total of nine children have been taken to various hospitals. The students were traveling in the bus when the speeding truck, attempting to overtake, crashed into it from behind. Those seated at the back of the bus suffered injuries.

Two children have sustained serious injuries, and updates regarding their condition will be provided by the hospitals,” a police official stated.

A video from the accident scene showed the mangled bus and students sitting on a nearby field as locals worked to assist in the rescue efforts.

Eyewitnesses said that the truck driver was driving recklessly and failed to regain control of the vehicle, leading to the crash. Authorities have opened an investigation into the incident to uncover more details and hold those responsible accountable.

Five members of a family, including three young children aged eight, four, and one, were found murdered in their home, with their bodies stuffed in sacks and hidden in a bed box, police said on Friday. The brutal killings have sent shockwaves through the Uttar Pradesh town of Meerut.

Two individuals have been detained in connection with the shocking murders, and several other suspects have also been taken into custody as investigations unfolded following the discovery of the bodies on the night of January 9. The parents were discovered wrapped in bedsheets, and all five victims suffered from severe head injuries and slash marks on their necks.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Vipin Tada stated that, based on a complaint lodged by the relatives of the deceased woman, a case has been filed against three named suspects and other unidentified individuals. He confirmed that two named suspects and several others are currently being questioned.

The bodies of the husband and wife were located wrapped in bedsheets, while the bodies of their three children were discovered stuffed into the storage compartment of a bed in the family’s home, located in the densely populated Suhail Garden area, under the jurisdiction of the Lisari Gate police station.

SSP Tada mentioned that one named suspect is currently on the run, and police teams have been assigned to locate and apprehend him. He assured that all evidence is being collected and expressed confidence that the case will be resolved soon.

The victims have been identified as Moin, also known as Moinuddin (52), his wife Asma (45), and their daughters Afsah (8), Aziza (4), and Adeeba (1). According to police reports, Asma’s brother, Shamim, filed a formal complaint late at night, alleging the involvement of Asma’s younger sister-in-law, Nazrana, and her two brothers in the suspected murders.

SSP Tada, who visited the crime scene on Thursday night, indicated that the family’s house was secured from the outside when concerned neighbors and locals checked on the family. The bodies were discovered after they gained access through the roof.

“The locked state of the house suggests that the perpetrator may have been familiar with the family,” Tada noted, adding that initial investigations point to an old grudge as a potential motive behind the horrific incident.

The SSP further revealed that one of the deceased’s legs was found tied with a bedsheet, and a forensic team, along with senior officers, is compiling evidence. The family, who had recently relocated to the area, is also being investigated for their background for further details.

Moin, a mechanic, and Asma had been unaccounted for since Wednesday. According to police, Moin’s brother Salim was the first to discover the gruesome scene when he went to check on the family after becoming worried about his brother’s absence. Salim had initially arrived at Moin’s house with his wife and, after multiple attempts to gain entry failed, was ultimately forced to break in with the help of neighbors.

AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal announced on Friday that his party plans to provide financial assistance to Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) for hiring private security guards if they are re-elected in Delhi.  

During a press conference, Kejriwal mentioned that specific guidelines detailing the financial assistance amounts and the number of guards that can be hired will be established later.

In his statements, Kejriwal criticized the BJP, claiming the party has disregarded the welfare of Delhi’s residents, which has contributed to their absence from power for 27 years. He emphasized that AAP prioritizes the needs of the people in Delhi, as evidenced by their commitment to support RWAs in enhancing neighborhood security through private security services.

Earlier on December 30, Kejriwal announced a new scheme that offers a monthly honorarium of Rs 18,000 to Hindu and Sikh priests. Kejriwal said that the registration of the Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana will begin on Tuesday. This announcement comes amid a huge row over a scheme that promises a monthly stipend to unemployed women.

Addressing a press conference, the former Delhi Chief Minister said that he was making an important announcement regarding a scheme. He mentioned that the name of the scheme is Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana. He continued that under this scheme, there is a provision to give an honorarium to the priests of temples and the granthis of the Gurudwara, adding that they will be given an honorarium of about Rs 18,000 per month. 

He pointed out that this is happening for the first time in the country. He added that the priest is a class that has carried forward the rituals from generation to generation, who never paid attention to their family and the governments never paid attention to them. Arvind Kejriwal said he would kickstart the scheme after visiting the Hanuman Temple in Delhi’s Connaught Place tomorrow.

Earlier, the AAP national convenor launched the Mahila Samman scheme which offered a stipend of Rs 2100 per month to unemployed women. The AAP leaders started a registration drive for the scheme. Nonetheless, the next day, the government’s women and child development (WCD) department advertised that the Mahila Samman scheme was non-existent and urged residents not to share personal data.