Sushmita had an oral test today at the Hindu Vidyapith Girls’ School, where she was a student of Class VII.

The incident occurred at 6.30 am, while the two were crossing the road. The bus, which was coming from the airport, ran over her while her grandmother was knocked down. The driver managed to flee.

The accident took place at a stone’s throw from the Baguiati Traffic Guard, but according to eyewitnesses, it was 40 minutes before police removed the girl’s body and took Niyogi to the hospital.

With multiple fractures in her left hand and her left eye injured too, she was kept in observation at the NRS Hospital.

Amal Mandal, a rickshaw puller who witnessed the accident, said: “The bus was plying at a very high-speed. The girl was clutching the hand of the old lady. The bus knocked them down and sped way. There were few people on the road and no one gave chase to the vehicle.”

Nandadulal Dutta, Officer in Charge, Baguiati Traffic Guard, said: “The killer bus was of route number 45. We have identified it. The driver will be arrested soon.”

Asked why not a single policeman was on the spot, where a police picket should have been posted, the OC replied: “It was too early for police to be deployed. Usually they begin duty around 7 am.”

The deceased lived at a rented house at Gyanandra Pally, Aswini Nagar.

Susmita was said to be a good student. Her father Ram Sajiban Harijan, 42, is an employee of Sealdah Railway engineering section.