What started as a normal back-to-school trip for Mary Mount Catholic Secondary School turned ugly on Monday as one student died and several others sustained injuries after their bus was involved in an accident in Mzimba.

The bus, which was travelling from Lilongwe to the school in Mzuzu, was involved in an accident at Luviri Trading Centre near Jenda in Mzimba District on the M1.

The ill-fated bus at the accident scene on Monday

In a statement on Monday, National Police Headquarters spokesperson Peter Kalaya said the bus belonging to Paniche Logistics had 58 passengers on board.

He said: “Of the 58 passengers, 28 sustained injuries of various degrees and were rushed to Mzimba District Hospital and Jenda Health Centre for treatment. Three of the 21 students have sustained serious injuries.”

Mzimba Police Station officer Horace Chabuka confirmed that one student died following the accident while others were receiving treatment at Jenda Health Centre.

Mzimba South director of health and social services Angelo Mwabungulu said Mzimba District Hospital thanked well-wishers who brought in the injured.

He said: “One is in very critical condition while some have been treated as outpatients.”

One of the parents, who was also on the bus with the students, Mcloud Mwambene, said he had injuries on his face, left hand and elbow among others.

“I’m in pain, I can’t talk much,” he said.

Mary Mount head teacher Linily Chavula said the bus involved in the accident was one of the buses hired by parents and guardians from various parts of the country to ferry students to the school.

She said: “The students left in five buses which were booked by parents and bus number four is the one which was involved in an accident.”

Chavula said the other four buses did not report any incident and arrived at the school safely on Monday afternoon.

As went to press, police said details of the accident were still sketchy as traffic officers were on the ground gathering information on the accident.

The post Mary Mount bus accident kills 1, injures 28 appeared first on The Nation Online.