Haryana Schools Face Accountability for Drunk Drivers: Education Minister Responds to Bus Accident

Haryana Schools Face Accountability for Drunk Drivers: After a speeding school bus carrying 30 students collided with a vehicle carrying around 30 students in Mahendragarh, Seema Trikha said all private schools needed to provide an affidavit that their vehicles were in compliance with transport rules on Thursday. Six children were killed and 20 others were injured.

An accident wrecked a school bus near Mahendragarh in Narnaul district, Haryana.

It was found that the bus driver was intoxicated, and Trikha said that schools would be held responsible if their drivers were intoxicated.

She said to ANI, “I want to tell the whole state that today a show cause notice has been issued to the school and apart from that, we have taken self-affidavits from the private schools. Second, they have to provide an affidavit of the transportation vehicle saying that their vehicles functioned according to the transport rules and norms, third, whoever is driving their vehicles, if they are found drunk, then they (schools) will hold the responsibility.”

Pradeep Kumar, Assistant Secretary of the Regional Transport Authority (RTA), was suspended hours after the accident.

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As the bus was taking primary and secondary school students to G L Public School in Kanina, the incident occurred near Unhani village at around 8.30 am.

Police have so far arrested three people, including the school's principal Deepti, and the bus driver Dharmender. According to the police, the bus lost control due to rash driving and crashed into a tree.

Droupadi Murmu said the incident was heartbreaking, saying, “I am deeply concerned about the tragic death of many innocent children in a school bus accident in Mahendragarh, Haryana. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured children. I pray for the strength of the bereaved parents and relatives to bear this cruel blow.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condoled the incident and said, “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.”

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