Drivers with 5-year experience for school vans

PATHSALA, April 28: The Barpeta district transport department organize the condolence meeting on Friday at Barpata town Pas-ali point to condole the death of 13 school students who lost their lives on the way to school in Uttar Pradesh recently.

The students were in the school bus which met with an accident. Most of the children in the bus were below 10 years of age. The accident occurred on Thursday morning when the school van of Divine Public School, carrying nearly 25 students, was passing through the unmanned crossing gate at Behpurva in Khushinagar and collided with a speeding train. Total 13 children were killed on the spot.

Gautam Das, DTO of Barpeta district, opined that the accident occurred due to the fault of the driver. He also said that a driver not having at least five years’ experience should not be appointed as a school van driver. He also instructed the school management of schools in Barpata district not to appoint any school van driver having less than five years driving experience.  He also appealed to drivers not to drive any vehicle under provocation.

He also said that 1.5 lakh people lose their lives in road accidents in India every year. In the condolence meeting, senior police officers and local citizens were present. They observed one-minute silence for the eternal peace of the departed souls. They also lit candles.