Thirty-one children injured in a fatal bus accident in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province were discharged from hospital Thursday afternoon, while eight others are still receiving medical treatment.

 

The eight were described as stable, but it was still undecided when they would be discharged, said a doctor with the No. 242 Hospital in Harbin where the students are hospitalized.

 

The students are aged from seven to 13.

 

The cost of medical treatment for the 39 students was covered by government of the Zhoujia Township, where the tragedy took place at about 6:40 a.m. on Nov. 21. A bus carrying 50 students plunged off a six-meter-high bridge, killing eight and injuring 39.

 

Families of the injured were compensated by the government of Zhoujia Township with 3,000 yuan to 6,000 yuan (US$375-750).

 

Families of the dead each received 200,000 yuan (US$25,000) in compensation earlier.

 

Li Xinsong, vice director of the Xincheng police bureau which oversees the Zhoujia Township, has been sacked on charges of negligence for ignoring public complaints about the illegal operation of buses.

 

Police have arrested bus driver Guan Jingquan, who was accused of overloading, speeding and driving without a school bus license.

 

Harbin has begun inspections of school buses. The owners of illegal buses face fines up to 100,000 yuan (US$12,500).

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 1, 2006)