Nagpur: Mankapur police have filed a case against six people—including deceased Tata Magic school van driver Ritik Ghanshyam Kanojia (24), Narayana Vidyalayam school bus driver Vijay Hemantrao More (38), van owner Rajesh Yadav, Bhavan’s School transport supervisor, highway contractor Rajneshkumar Dashrathkumar Singh of Oriental Nagpur Betul Highway Ltd., and site in-charge Shrirav along with other company officials—for their alleged role in a fatal accident that killed two persons and injured several children. 

Investigators say the contractor and site team failed to provide required signboards, strong road dividers and warning indicators while roadwork was underway, violating mandatory safety conditions.

Police said the crash occurred around 8.40 a.m. on September 12 on the Mankapur flyover near Max Hospital, when a Tata Magic school van (MH 31 EM 0036) driven by Kanojia and a school bus (MH 31 FC 1913) driven by More were being driven at high speed and collided head-on. 

Nine schoolchildren were hurt and taken to Kunal and Max hospitals, where doctors declared van driver Kanojia and 14-year-old student Sanvi Devendra Khobragade dead during treatment. 

The remaining injured children—identified as Shriya Suryawanshi (7), Hridaya Suryawanshi (12), Swayam Thakre (10), Yash Meshram (10), Kavya Kedar (9), Priyanshika Shende (6), Adiraj Khobragade (9) and a nine-year-old girl named Purvi—are under medical care. Offences have been registered under BNS sections 281, 106(1), 125, 125(a), 125(b), 223 and relevant provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act.

The accident has triggered public anger, as locals had repeatedly warned that the flyover’s closure was creating an accident-prone zone. Residents allege that despite their appeals, the administration ignored the issue—resulting in the loss of innocent lives.