In the wake of a bus accident that took away seven lives, including that of four small children in Goa in India, the state government ordered cancellation of the Goa Carnival- 2012. The carnival was supposed to start in Panaji Saturday evening.

A private mini bus plunged into the Mapusa river in Aldona village, some 22 km away from the state's capital city of Panaji. The state government has promised to give Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the victims.

The bus driver, who is also the bus owner's son, has been arrested and booked for culpable homicide and a probe was ordered.

The accident took place Saturday morning and the police are investigating if the bus had any mechanical defects and if it had permission to operate.

We have fished out six bodies. Four of them are of school-going children, DIG Ravindra Yadav was quoted as saying by the Times of India.

A witness said the bus had come down the slope to the ferry point. It appeared that the bus driver could not control the bus while it slipped in to the river.

The witness said when the bus plunged into the river, the driver tried to escape through the driver's door. However, since the door was jammed, he came out from the passenger door and swam to the banks and ran away from the spot. Later he surrendered to the police.

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