35 students on way to attend Modi's rally injured

Forty-three people, including 35 students of a computer training centre, were injured when the private bus in which they were travelling overturned in Jawali subdivision of Kangra district on Thursday, police said.

They were on their way to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally in Dharamsala.

Five of the injured were admitted to Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College in Tanda, a police officer told IANS.

Station House Officer Mehar Singh said the students belonging to a private computer centre located in Nagrota Surian were travelling along with their teachers.

Bus driver Ashok Kumar has been booked for negligence.

Modi, in his address to the public here, marking the first anniversary of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rule in the state, asked the state government to ensure adequate relief measures.

He also appealed to the rally participants to take precautions while returning to their homes.

Facing opposition Congress' allegation that the government had ordered closure of schools and colleges in the wake of Modi's rally, the government withdrew its earlier order to shut down all educational institutions in Dharamsala block.

The government ordered closure of education institutions to ensure the students do not get stuck in possible traffic snarls on the rally day.

--IANS

vg/prs