In Goa, atleast seven people including 6 children lost their lives and over eight went missing after a school bus fell into Kalvi River this afternoon. The bus was carrying over a dozen school children and a woman caretaker when it fell into the river near in North Goa near Aldona ferry wharf. The driver and conductor jumped out of the vehicle as it fell into the river. It appears that there was a break failure and the bus plunged into the river.Soon after the mishap, rescue operations were initiated with the help of local and marine police, Indian Navy, Indian coast guard and the Indian army. Three Chetak helicopters and 10 divers assisted with canoes by locals managed to extricate seven persons almost two hours after the accident. The vehicle was pulled out of the river and searches are on for the missing children who are feared drowned. The state government has announced a relief of two lakh rupees each to the next of kins of the deceased. It has cancelled all carnival float parades, which are to begin in Goa in 4 major towns – Margao, Ponda, Vasco and Mapusa – from today.