BLATANT LAPSES LED TO SCHOOL BUS CRASH IN MAHENDERGARH

A drunk driver at the wheel and complete disregard for the roadworthiness of the vehicle were just the ingredients that made Thursday’s crash of a private school bus in Mahendergarh district a tragedy waiting to happen. Six students died in the mishap while many were injured. Hitender Rao lists 5 reasons which led to crash

DRUNK DRIVER, HIGH SPEED

The first information report (FIR) registered at Kanina city police station brings out that the bus driver, identified as Dharmender, an accused in the FIR, was in an inebriated state and did not heed the repeated requests of the school children not to drive the bus too fast. Section 185 of the Motor Vehicle Act which pertained to driving by a drunk person has been invoked in the FIR. In fact, the accused school bus driver browbeat the students and disregarded their pleas for slowing down, the FIR said

NO FITNESS CERTIFICATE

The school bus was plying without a fitness certificate. Transport officials said the school bus bearing registration number HR 66-A 7514 was also challaned by the district transport officer on March 13, 2023 for plying without a fitness certificate, without payment of tax and without affixing a high-security registration plate. A penalty of ₹15,500 was imposed, officials said

CALLOUS SCHOOL AUTHORITIES

The complainant, a 17-year-old girl student, Anuj of Kharkara Bass village in Mahendergarh, told police that the parents of students from Kheri Talwana, a village en route, came to know that the driver was drunk and snatched the vehicle keys from him. “When they spoke to the school administration about the safety of their children due to a drunk driver at the wheel, the school administration asked the parents to return the vehicle keys to the driver, or else face the consequences. Intimidated, the parents handed over the keys back to the driver,’’ the FIR said. The driver has been booked for rash and negligent driving endangering human lives, culpable homicide and endangering the life and personal safety of students

SCHOOL OPEN ON GAZETTED HOLIDAY

Despite a gazetted holiday in the state on account of Id-ul-Fitr, the private school was open. Bhiwani Mahendergarh MP Dharambir Singh on Friday questioned why the district education officer (DEO), who is responsible for ensuring the closure of educational institutions on a gazetted holiday failed to do so. The tragedy could have been averted if the private school was closed on Thursday

NO ATTENDANT INSIDE BUS

The school bus, as per the FIR, did not have a male or female attendant to look after the safety of the children. The courts have on several occasions ordered that trained male and female attendants who can handle children and ensure their safety need to be on board