8 school students fall unconscious due to suffocation in packed bus
AT RISK Three students were referred to a hospital; police complaint filed against school director Our department will continue taking legal action against private school buses, which flout norms. Some school buses were seized which did not have a permit and lacked safety instruments.
Eight students of a private school fell unconscious due to suffocation while travelling in a school bus and were rushed to a hospital in Bharatpur on Friday.
More than 25 students of Montessori Public School were travelling in the 12-seater bus and the incident took place due to the negligence of the school director, Somendra Singh, the police said.
The students were rushed to Mohan Swaroop Moni community health centre in Deeg, where five were discharged after treatment and three, who were critical, were referred to the district women’s hospital in Bharatpur.
The bus was overcrowded and carrying students (who were all under 15 years of age) from Khori, Girsay, Bahaj — under Deeg sub-division.
Station house officer of Deeg police Kanheya Lal said that the school bus has been seized and the school director, Somendra Singh, and driver, Bhudev Singh, have been detained. A complaint of negligence has been registered against them.
The school director, Somendra Singh, a resident of Khori village, owns these school cabs.
Community health centre in-charge Dr Man Singh said eight children were hospitalized after they complained of suffocation. Three — Seema Kumari (13), Payal Kumari (12) and Kumkum (12)—were referred to a hospital for treatment for respiratory problem.
“The department has taken action against schools cab in the district after a few incidents this month. Our department will continue taking legal action against private school buses, which flout norms. Some school buses were seized which did not have a permit and lacked safety instruments,” said transport officer of Bharatpur Nanuram Choyal.
Sub-division magistrate of Deeg Dulichand Meena said that he has directed education and transport department officials to consider action against schools. “Police officials were asked to file cases against the bus driver and school director,” said Meena.
“I am not aware of such an incident. If he is guilty, action will be taken against the school director for negligence,” Deeg block education officer Babulal said
On July 13, a student had died and 18 were injured when the school bus they were travelling in overturned after the driver lost control in Sikri. The bus was carrying nearly 50 students.
School cabs — often without an air conditioner—overcrowding is a common sight in Bharatpur.
The situation is no different in other parts of the state. Children jostling for space in school vans and auto-rickshaws are also a common sight in the Pink City. The packed vehicles pose threat to the students’ safety.
In March, the Jaipur traffic police conducted a campaign to stop overcrowding of school vans and auto-rickshaws.