Fatal school bus incident in Mahendragarh, Haryana results in six deaths

In a devastating event, a school bus accident in Mahendragarh, Haryana, has resulted in the deaths of six children and serious injuries to three others. The principal of GL Public School, the bus driver, and the school’s secretary have been arrested following the tragic incident. The bus, which belonged to the school, was found to have an expired fitness certificate dating back to 2018.

The driver of the bus, identified only as Dharmendra, allegedly abandoned the vehicle just before it collided with a tree and overturned. A medical test later confirmed that he had alcohol in his bloodstream at the time of the accident. Alongside Dharmendra, the school principal, named Dipti, and the secretary, Hoshiyar Singh, were taken into custody. Hoshiyar Singh was responsible for overseeing the buses and other related duties at the school.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Mahendra Rana elaborated on the legal actions taken, stating, “A case has been registered under sections of the Indian Penal Code dealing with culpable homicide not amounting to murder and others. Sections of the Motor Vehicle Act have also been applied because the fitness certificate was not valid.”

Local residents had raised alarms about the driver’s condition prior to the accident, claiming they had informed the school authorities about the driver being under the influence. Despite these warnings, the tragedy occurred, leading to increased scrutiny over the school’s transportation policies and safety measures. State Education Minister Seema Trikha announced an inquiry into why the school was open on Eid, a national holiday, and has mandated that all private schools submit affidavits ensuring compliance with transportation safety regulations.

This tragic incident underscores the critical importance of strict adherence to safety regulations in school transportation. It highlights the need for schools to ensure that their transportation providers are not only compliant with legal standards but are also subject to regular checks and balances. The involvement of alcohol in the accident points to a severe lapse in oversight and enforcement, prompting a call for stricter controls and immediate corrective actions within school operational policies.