After Sangrur van tragedy, Punjab launches statewide crack down on school vehicle operators

Coming down heavily on school vehicles, two days after the heart-rending Sangrur school van tragedy in which four children were charred to death and eight others were injured, the Punjab government on Monday launched a state-wide operation against the operators for violating traffic guidelines.

The state transport department has constituted teams at district and subdivision level and tightened the noose around the buses, van, auto-rickshaw and other vehicle operators ferrying children to educational institutions across the state.

The law enforcing agencies quickly became active for the safe transportation of schoolchildren following the directions of the Punjab Chief Minister. Teams headed by the competent transport authorities listed various ‘nakas’ and issued hundreds of challans to vehicles carrying school and college students since early this morning for violation of traffic rules.

A large number of buses, autos, vans and other vehicles were impounded for various violations of traffic rules and under provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act.

Taking to the social media, Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh on his Facebook account wrote, “The Transport Department has launched a state-wide drive of inspecting the condition and roadworthiness of all school vans and buses. DCs are closely monitoring this drive. The safety of our children is paramount and we will take all necessary steps in this regard.”

In his Facebook post, Capt. Amarinder Singh also wrote, “I salute the extraordinary bravery & valour of 14-year-old Amandeep Kaur who risked her life to put out the fire in the school van yesterday and also rescued 4 children from the van. I am so proud of you and I am looking forward to meeting you.”

A day after the tragedy, the Sangrur police have also arrested the school owner-cum-principal, Lakhwinder Singh and the van driver Dalbir Singh on the murder charge. The duo was booked under Sections 304 of the Indian Penal Code.