IPOH, Nov 9 — A bus carrying about 60 university students was believed to have skidded and overturned in Jalan Slim Lama, Tanjung Malim, this evening.
Muallim district police chief Supt Mohd Hasni Mohd Nasir said police received a call at about 7 pm regarding the incident.
“The accident occurred after the Kota Malim Prima junction. Preliminary investigations found that 11 passengers, including the driver, suffered minor injuries and were taken to Slim River Hospital for treatment,” he said in a statement here today.
He said the cause of the incident is still under investigation and any updates will be informed soon.
Meanwhile, Tanjung Malim Fire and Rescue Station chief Mohd Zairul Fahmi Mohd Nazari, when contacted by Bernama, said the fire brigade had gone to the scene for rescue work.
In an updated statement, Mohd Hasni said preliminary investigations found that the incident was believed to have occurred due to a burst tyre when the bus was travelling from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) Sultan Idris Campus to the Sultan Azlan Shah Campus.
“When arriving at the scene, the right front tyre of the bus had burst, causing the 63-year-old driver to lose control of the vehicle before it skidded into the drain on the left side of the road,” he said.
Mohd Hasni said 17 passengers suffered minor injuries and were treated at Slim River Hospital and Tanjung Malim Health Clinic.
Several photos and videos of the overturned bus went viral on social media. They were also uploaded on Facebook by Barisan Nasional candidate for the Tanjung Malim parliamentary seat, Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon, who happened to pass by the area.
“I am extremely sad to see the accident which involved UPSI students in the Bandar UPSI area.
“May all those involved be safe. Let’s pray for the best,” he said in the posting.
