32 children, a teacher hospitalised after van accident in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram

At least 32 students and one teacher were hospitalised, at least 10 of them with minor injuries, after a private van in which they were travelling to a school almost keeled over into a precipitous drop at Malamukal on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on Monday (August 18, 2025) morning.

The incident has raised serious questions about the safety of transporting children to schools, especially in crowded private vans, cars and autorickshaws. 

General Education Minister V. Sivankutty visited the injured children of St. Shantal English Medium School, Malamukal, at a hospital in Sasthamangalam. Later, he told reporters that the students were safe and there was no cause for worry.

However, Mr. Sivankutty was critical of the school management banning private vehicles from dropping children inside the school precincts, a safe zone. He said the management allowed only its buses on the campus. 

Mr. Sivankutty has also ordered an enquiry into the accident.

The Motor Vehicles department would evaluate the vehicles’ condition and the driver’s skill. The police have also registered a case.

The hospital public relations officer said seven students were in observation. One student had a fracture in the hand. Rest of them who had minor injuries such as cuts or bruises had been sent home after treatment.

The school authorities were not available for comment.