Chennai, Jul 26 (IANS): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa Thursday ordered stern action against those operating defective school buses, a day after a seven-year-old girl slipped down to the road through a hole under her bus seat and was killed.

Jayalalithaa expressed her deep grief at the girl's death and announced a solatium of Rs.100,000 to her family.

"I have ordered the police and school education authorities to take severe action against those who are responsible for operating a defective vehicle as school bus on a lease," she said.

S.Shruti, who was returning home from her school in Tambaram city suburbs, was seated on the sixth row behind the driver in the school bus.

When she got up to get down, she slipped down to the road through a massive hole under her seat and was crushed to death by the same bus.

The cardboard which was used to cover the hole under her seat gave in under her weight as she stood up, and resulted in her death.

Unaware of the incident, driver Seeman continued to drive while the passersby along the road were horrified to witness the girl being crushed to death.

The driver was thrashed by the people as he refused to believe that such an accident had occurred. The mob set the bus ablaze.

The authorities of Zion Matriculation School denied any responsibility and blamed the bus contractor for the vehicle's condition.

Incidentally, the vehicle was given a fitness certificate by the transport department only six months ago.

The police have arrested the school bus driver.