11 children die after bus falls into pond

A kindergarten school bus loaded with 15 children in Guixi city, Jiangxi province, fell into a pond at about 9 am on Dec 24, killing 11, according to Xinhua News Agency.

A schoolbag floats on the water after a kindergarten school bus loaded with 15 children plunged into a roadside pond on Dec 24.[Photo/Xinhua]

Three children died at the scene. Twelve students were sent to hospital, where eight died despite treatment.

Four were out of danger by evening.

Xinhua reported that the driver who caused the accident is in custody, and the reason for the accident is being investigated.

School bus management and regulations have attracted serious attention by the government and public since November 2011, when 21 children died and 43 were severely injured in a school bus accident in Gansu province.

The State Council released a regulation on school bus safety in April, requiring local governments to ensure students attend schools near their homes or go to boarding schools to minimize road accidents.