Hours after the tragic Haryana school bus accident, where at least six students died and 20 others were injured on Thursday after their school bus overturned in Mahendragarh, the Haryana government has ordered an investigation into the case amid speculation that the driver may have been intoxicated and that the bus lacked essential documents such as a fitness certificate.
In addition to the school attended by the students involved in the incident, other schools that remained open despite a public holiday for Eid have been issued a show-cause notice.
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Hanuman Singh, the grandparent of two children involved in the accident, expressed his dismay, stating, the school authorities share equal responsibility in this matter, adding that they were aware of the bus driver’s intoxication
“At Kheri Talwana, the bus was stopped by a few villagers who saw that the driver was drunk and driving rashly. They took the keys out of the ignition. They returned it after the school staff on the bus made them. Around 6 km away from the village, the accident took place,” Singh recounted as he awaited Radhika’s second CT scan at a private hospital in Rewari, as The Indian Express reported.
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Transport Minister Aseem Goel said that instructions have been given to senior officials to form a committee for a comprehensive investigation covering various aspects. The committee will comprise senior officials of the state government, Goel told reporters.
Notably the bus involved in the accident was recently fined for lacking certain documents, and the fact that it was still in use was a clear negligence on the part of the school authorities.
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Goel directed the district transport officer concerned to register a FIR against the school, Furthermore, he warned if the investigation finds that the motor vehicles inspector in the area didn’t act despite knowing the bus lacked proper documents, they would face consequences as well.
“We had challaned the bus for Rs 15,500 due to a lack of documents, but clearly, a lapse of the school authorities has been found,” Goel said.
The minister also informed that he has instructed officials to ensure the fitness of all school buses. Circulars will be issued by the district transport officer to district education officers in this regard.
Seema Trikha, who visited the injured children in the hospital, highlighted that the major oversight was the school operating on a holiday. She mentioned that a show-cause notice has been issued to the school.
Trikha further stated that affidavits will be obtained from all private schools confirming that their buses comply with regulations, and action will be taken if any violations are discovered.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also expressed his condolences: “The bus accident in Mahendragarh, Haryana, is extremely painful. My condolences are with all the families who have lost their children in this accident. Along with this, I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured children. Under the supervision of the state government, the local administration is engaged in providing all possible help to the victims and their families,” he posted on X.