Haryana bus accident Why schools open on Eid? Questions raised after 6 students killed in car crash

Mahendragarh bus accident: Bus belongs to GL Public School

New Delhi:

A devastating accident involving a school bus in Mahendragarh, Haryana today killed six students as they were returning home from school, raising questions about school bus safety and sparking debate over who is responsible. Parents and locals are also asking why schools remain open during the Eid al-Fitr public holiday.

This morning, a school bus hit a tree and overturned, killing six children and injuring more than 20 people. The driver was allegedly drunk, police said.

The bus belongs to GL Public School and its certificate expired in 2018. A state road transport officer has been suspended for failing to control the movement of a vehicle without proper and valid documents.

State Education Minister Seema Trikha said an investigation was underway to find out why schools continued to hold classes during the holidays. She reiterated that schools should be closed today and a notice stating the reason had been issued.

“Schools should not be open today. A notice stating the reason has been issued and apart from this, we have also obtained self-affidavits from private schools. Schools have to provide affidavits from transport vehicles stating that they are functioning properly as per transport rules ,”she says.

Asked who was responsible for the tragedy, the minister said schools and bus owners would be held accountable along with the driver.

“If the (school bus) driver is found drunk, the school will be held liable. In such a case, an FIR will be filed against the driver, the school principal and the bus owner.”