A team has been formed to probe the school bus accident that occurred in Haryana on Thursday which saw six children die and 20 wounded. The incident occurred when the school bus crashed into a tree in Haryana's Mahendragarh on Thursday.
A four-member government-appointed panel will investigate the incident. The Education Department has also sent a directive to all private schools seeking an affidavit to prove that their vehicles are adhering to the transport rules.
Haryana education minister Seema Trikha told reporters on Thursday that a show cause notice has been issued to the schools. "Besides, we have taken self-affidavits from the private schools. They also have to provide an affidavit saying that their vehicles functioned according to the transport rules and norms. Third, whoever is driving their vehicles, if they are found drunk, then they (schools) will hold the responsibility." Trikha added.
A show cause notice has also been issued to the private school to explain why it was open on Thursday despite it being a holiday on account of Eid. Mahendragarh Deputy Commissioner Monika Gupta confirmed the private school was open on Eid and the district education officer has sent a proposal to the state government for cancelling its recognition.
The police have arrested three people including the principal and the driver, who was allegedly drunk and driving rashly. Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Assistant Secretary Pradeep Kumar has also been placed under suspension following the incident.
The incident occurred near Unhani village in Kanina around 8.30 am when the bus was carrying around 40 children -- from primary to secondary classes -- to the G L Public School. Police identified the deceased students as Satyam, Yuvraj, Vansh, Ricky, Anshu and Yakush.
Police said the driver, Dharmender, was driving rashly due to which he lost control of the bus, which rammed into a tree and overturned. The medical examination confirmed he was under the influence of alcohol.
An injured student told reporters that the bus was being driven at a high speed when the driver lost control of the vehicle, resulting in the crash. "The driver appeared to be drunk," he said.
According to an FIR, the driver was stinking of alcohol ignored repeated requests by children to drive slowly, and allegedly even threatened them. here was no helper or any woman official in the bus, said the complainant.
The Additional Transport Commissioner (Road Safety) has been directed to conduct a detailed inquiry into the reasons for the accident and find out those responsible, said the officials.
The education department has also decided to hold a meeting so as to ensure that 'Surakshit School Vahan Policy' for safe transportation of children is enforced strictly.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP chief J P Nadda, Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Randeep Singh Surjewala, AAP leader Sushil Gupta, INLD leader Abhay Singh Chautala and JJP leader Dushyant Chautala expressed grief over the accident.
