LAHORE Over 37 students of under Matriculation classes were killed whereas 73 others injured when a Faisalabad-bound school bus fell into a deep ravine on National Highway near Kalar Kahar, Chakwal on Monday evening. Over 110 students, staff members, peons and driver were on board. A 52-year-old school Principal Muhammad Hafeez Anwar was also among the dead. The condition of four students, three school teachers, one headmaster and a peon was also told critical at the Chakwal District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) till filing of this report. It is yet to be known that whether bus driver Allah Bakhsh fled from the scene or was also among the dead. According to the preliminary reports, a 68-seater local bus (FS-4186) occupied by 103 students, seven staff members of Millat Grammar Public School, Faisalabad, was coming back from Islamabad to the industrial city of Faisalabad after picnic. 'The bus turned turtle and fell into the gorge while changing a lane of Motorway near Kalar Kahar, a minor student, who survived, told media men. DIG Motorways (Chakwal) Dr. Muhammad Shafiq confirmed that the death toll has crossed 26. 'Around 18 injured have been shifted to the DHQ whereas the rest of are being shifted to the Fauji Foundation Hospital, the DHQ Medical Superintendent Dr. Alamgir said. He said mostly students have sustained multiple backbone, elbow, neck, arms and hip injuries. He, however, said the veteran doctors and senior paramedical staffers have been called back from their homes and emergency has been declared in the DHQ. 'We are trying our best to save more lives as we can, he added. 'Yes, this was old fashioned bus, being driven by an inexperienced driver who never travelled on highways, National Highways and Motorways police spokesman Javed Chaudhry told this reporter. To a query regarding the NH&MP involvement in the incident as an inexperienced man was driving the vehicle, he said: 'we are probing into the matter on these lines. According to NH&MP expert, the police have established Emergency Clans on the both sides of the road, which always work as barriers for the accident-hits vehicles. He, however, said this incident took place a few yards away after passing such emergency clans. 'Yes, this was slope and the bus was speeding but unfortunately breaks went off and it turned turtle equally due to failed breaks and overloading, he opined. Faisalabad correspondent adds: a large number of families, relatives and family friends gathered outside the school minutes after listening to the news of the accident. Haroon, whose two nephews, were also among the students told the reporters that they were uncertain about the lives of their loved ones. Another youth Asif said that no list of dead or injured was displayed by the school administration. 'Infact shortly after listening about the incident, the entire school administration have escaped from their homes, he added. Further investigations were underway.