7-yr-old Sion schoolgirl crushed under ST bus

A Std II student of Chhatrapati Shivaji Vidyalaya, Pragati Omprakash Patva was crossing the road near Sion fish market opposite Omkar Tower around 1.05 pm with her mother, when the Alibaug-Mumbai ST bus driven by Anand Manohar Helgaonkar (45) knocked her down and ran over her.

According to the police, Pragati's mother sustained minor injuries to her leg while attempting to save her daughter's life. After the mishap, the victim was rushed to Sion hospital, but was declared dead on arrival. Senior Inspector B Z Gavit from Sion police station said, "They ducked through the road divider and failed to observe the bus coming towards them."

Helgaonkar has been arrested and booked under sections 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way), 337 (causing hurt by act of endangering life or personal safety) and 304 (A) (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code. He will be produced in Bhoiwada court today.u00a0