Latest news with #SafeSchoolVahanPolicy
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Mohali: Do away with black spots, DC tells officials
Deputy commissioner Komal Mittal on Sunday directed the officials concerned to take immediate and concrete measures to eliminate accident-prone black spots across the district to prevent road mishaps and ensure smooth traffic flow. Chairing a meeting of the District Road Safety Committee, she instructed officials of the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA), municipal corporation and local councils besides PWD and NHAI to prioritise doing away with the black spots and submit action-taken reports before the next meeting. Calling for stringent action against traffic violators, the deputy commissioner (DC) directed the police, the regional transport officer (RTO) and the district child protection officer to conduct regular checks. Special focus was laid on ensuring that school buses strictly comply with the Safe School Vahan Policy. RTO Rajpal Singh Sekhon informed the committee that during April and May, 1,352 challans, amounting to ₹59.87 lakh, were issued. Mittal further emphasised timely uploading of accident details on the E-DAR (Electronic Detailed Accident Report) portal that facilitates faster compensation disbursal through centralised accident reporting, geotagging and data sharing. The police and the hospitals were asked to update the portal promptly to help the Union ministry of road transport and highways effectively identify and address high-risk zones. Appealing to residents to assist road accident victims without the fear of legalities, the DC reiterated that Good Samaritans are legally protected and eligible for rewards and recognition. The sub-divisional magistrates (SDMs) were directed to expedite pending compensation claims related to hit-and-run cases. As per the scheme, victims' families are entitled to ₹2 lakh in case of a fatality and ₹50,000 for grievous injuries.
Hindustan Times
08-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
5 school students killed in Samana crash
Five school children and a driver were killed when the vehicle they were travelling in collided with a tipper at Samana in Patiala district on Wednesday, police said. The severely damaged private school children's car after a road accident with a truck, at Samana road, in Patiala on Wednesday. (ANI) The incident occurred on the Samana-Patiala road when the vehicle (Toyota Innova) was ferrying the students back from school. Patiala superintendent of police Palwinder Singh Cheema, who rushed to the accident spot, said 13 children of the local Bhupindra International School were returning from school when the accident occurred. Three of the injured students are hospitalised in a critical condition. The impact of the accident was such that a JCB machine had to be requisitioned to retrieve the bodies. The driver of the truck is absconding, he said, adding he would be arrested soon. The deceased students have been identified as Parv Sachdeva (12), Dhivanshi (11), Aradhya (10), Vargyan (8), and Sehaj Bansal (12). Expressing grief over the accident, chief minister Bhagwant Mann posted on X: 'My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I also wish a speedy recovery to those injured.' Punjab health minister Dr Balbir Singh, who reached Government Rajindra Hospital to see the injured students, said, 'It is a very unfortunate incident. I have been told that the truck was speeding and hit the Innova while it was overtaking another vehicle.' As per the district administration, the Innova was a privately owned vehicle, hired by the parents to ferry the students. The seven-seater SUV had 14 occupants, including the driver. This incident has, once again points at poor implementation of the Safe School Vahan Policy that mandates safe transportation of schoolchildren. Under the scheme, the school authorities are responsible for the safe transportation of students. However, many schools have been turning the blind eye towards the guidelines issued by the district authorities, said officials. Patiala deputy commissioner said a review meeting is held every 15 days to ensure proper implementation of the policy and violators are challaned. 'An emergency meeting has been called after the incident,' said the DC.
