Make outcome of schoolbus mishaps probe public: NGO

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 10

A Shimla-based NGO has alleged that though 30 schoolchildren died in three accidents involving school buses in a span of eight months, the outcome of the magisterial inquiries ordered into the mishaps is not known yet.

Social Welfare Council of India has demanded that the progress in these inquiries be made public. “The public has every right to know as to what was the outcome of inquires and exact reasons behind the accidents,” the NGO said.

“We met the Governor on August 18 last year and apprised him of how local private taxi and school bus operators were defying all norms of safety”, said NGO chairman Rajeshwar Negi.

“We had suggested a 10-point action plan. But after the recent Dadhahu accident in Sirmaur, which killed seven schoolchildren, has exposed that the enforcement remains poor”, he said.

Negi said the parents of the Nupur school bus tragedy victims were still running from pillar to post for compensation. “It is shocking these tragedies did not wake up various government agencies,” he said.

The transport deparment, HRTC and police and the local administration must ensure the fitness of drivers and a regular check of buses.