Overcrowded vehicles ferrying schoolchildren worry admn

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 14

The district administration has asked schools heads and principals of city schools to create awareness among parents regarding overloading of auto-rickshaws, vehicles ferrying their wards.

The authorities have also ordered vehicle drivers not to ferry more than the prescribed number of schoolchildren. A ban on overloading of student vehicles will prevail till March 15. Earlier this month, nine children were injured as an auto-rickshaw they were travelling in collided with a recovery van near Manawala. In past too, there have been a plenty of road accidents due to overcrowding of vehicles concerning kids.

Deputy Commissioner Kamaldeep Singh Sangha said, “It has been brought to the notice that vehicles ferrying students to their schools are generally overcrowded. Such a situation puts the lives of students in danger, besides creating other problems. DEO (Secondary Education) Salwinder Singh Samra said, “The school managements must create awareness among parents about overcrowding of the vehicles. The school heads are responsible for the safety of their students, even if they do not provide means of transport.” Recently, the Tribune in its news report had highlighted the overloaded auto-rickshaws and buses risking the lives of young children.