Over 45 children of Amity International School in Vasundhara had a close shave on Wednesday afternoon when a school bus ferrying them caught fire due to a short circuit. The terrified parents alleged gross negligence on the part of school the management, as the bus did not have mandatory first aid box and even the emergency doors were jammed.
‘It’s shocking that the management is negligent up to this extent. They are compromising with the security of our children. We pay a huge fee for care, security and best possible education of our children but they are putting their lives in danger,’ said Shikha Sharma (name changed), a resident of Indirapuram, whose child studies in that school.
The incident took place around 2 pm on Wednesday, when the bus was going to drop students of the school situated in Sector 8, Vasundhara, on route number 2. All students were of primary to middle section of the school.
‘We are happy to see our children safe but are shocked to see such negligence in a reputed school.
The school must have its own buses and not rely on contractors,’ said Mohan Singh, another parent.
The parents have requested not to reveal their names since they fear that identification could harm the future of their children in the school.
According to officers of the Transport department, the fire was caused by a short circuit in the bus. As the incident took place near Vasundhara police post, the staff, with the help of police, evacuated the bus and another bus was arranged to drop the children after over an hour of wait on the roadside. The staff of the school prevented the children from talking to the media or any other person.
‘We have asked the bus driver to bring all documents and he will be challaned as per rules,’ said S P Yadav, Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) Enforcement, Ghaziabad who reached the site after the incident.
According to sources, the officers had earlier decided to seize the bus later, the driver and bus owner were given the opportunity to bring the papers on Thursday. The bus belongs to a private travel agent, Dinesh Travels, in Ghaziabad. The school has hired most of its buses from private contractors.
‘It’s shocking that the management is negligent up to this extent. They are compromising with the security of our children. We pay a huge fee for care, security and best possible education of our children but they are putting their lives in danger,’ said Shikha Sharma (name changed), a resident of Indirapuram, whose child studies in that school.
The incident took place around 2 pm on Wednesday, when the bus was going to drop students of the school situated in Sector 8, Vasundhara, on route number 2. All students were of primary to middle section of the school.
‘We are happy to see our children safe but are shocked to see such negligence in a reputed school.
The school must have its own buses and not rely on contractors,’ said Mohan Singh, another parent.
The parents have requested not to reveal their names since they fear that identification could harm the future of their children in the school.
According to officers of the Transport department, the fire was caused by a short circuit in the bus. As the incident took place near Vasundhara police post, the staff, with the help of police, evacuated the bus and another bus was arranged to drop the children after over an hour of wait on the roadside. The staff of the school prevented the children from talking to the media or any other person.
‘We have asked the bus driver to bring all documents and he will be challaned as per rules,’ said S P Yadav, Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) Enforcement, Ghaziabad who reached the site after the incident.
According to sources, the officers had earlier decided to seize the bus later, the driver and bus owner were given the opportunity to bring the papers on Thursday. The bus belongs to a private travel agent, Dinesh Travels, in Ghaziabad. The school has hired most of its buses from private contractors.