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Hindustan Times
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Samana crash: Driver of truck that killed 5 school kids arrested
Police on Thursday arrested the driver of a tipper truck that rammed into a Toyota Innova, killing six occupants of the car — the driver and five schoolchildren — on the Patiala-Samana road. The driver, Bhupinder Singh, along with the truck's owners, Randhir Singh and Davinder Singh, were booked under Section 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The truck owners are, however, yet to be taken into custody. Police sources shared that the fitness certificate, pollution certificate and insurance of the truck had expired. Besides, the truck owners had not paid any road tax. Five schoolchildren and the driver of their car, which ferried them daily to school, were killed when the tipper had collided with the vehicle head-on. A pall of grief descended on Samana city as the five children were cremated at the local cremation ground. Locals raised slogans against the state government, condemning its failure to regulate speeding by trucks. Patiala MP Dr Dharmavira Gandhi, who attended the cremation, expressed deep condolences to the grieving families. Calling the loss 'unbearable', he assured to take up the matter with Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari and demand the widening of the Patiala-Samana Road to prevent such accidents in future. Govt enforces measures for road safety Punjab health minister and Patiala Rural MLA Dr Balbir Singh convened an emergency meeting with senior district officials, including deputy commissioner Dr Preeti Yadav and SP Vaibhav Chaudhary, on Thursday. A two-minute silence was observed in the memory of the deceased. Dr Singh announced strict directives to curb reckless driving, particularly by tippers and school buses. 'All tippers must adhere to a maximum speed limit of 60 km/h and speed governors must be installed. Their movement during daytime will be completely barred,' he said, adding that school buses must fully comply with the Safe School Vehicle Policy. He also ordered stringent fitness checks, dope tests and eye exams for all drivers of tippers, trucks and school buses. 'There will be a zero tolerance towards violations, and any government official found negligent will face strict action,' he stated. The government's swift response, however, has done little to quell public's anger over repeated accidents involving heavy vehicles. Mourning the devastating loss of young lives, Samana observed a complete bandh on Thursday, demanding accountability and lasting road safety reforms.
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Time of India
Samana shuts to mourn death of schoolkids in road accident
1 2 3 Patiala: Samana town on Thursday remained shut to grieve the death of five schoolchildren in an accident on the Samana–Patiala road, with a large number of people gathering at the cremation ground to pay their final residents questioned the lack of basic health infrastructure and hospitals in the town, calling for schools to be stricter with private vehicles ferrying schoolchildren. Some residents raised strong objections to mining activities which allow heavy tippers to operate on Wednesday, five children, aged between 6 and 12, and a 45-year-old Toyota Innova driver were killed after their vehicle collided head-on with a tipper truck, while seven others were hospitalised. Police said that one of the children is facing serious head cabinet minister Dr Balbir Singh held a meeting on road safety with deputy commissioner Preeti Yadav, SP Vaibhav Chaudhary, RTA Naman Markan, SDMs, DSP (traffic), and representatives from related departments. A two-minute silence was observed in memory of the children, and tributes were paid to them. He directed the officials to enforce zero tolerance for speed limit violations by tippers and school Singh said, "There can be no compromise on the safety standards of school vehicles." He directed that all tippers must not exceed 60 kmph and speed governors be mandatorily installed. School buses must fully comply with the Safe School Vehicle Policy, he added. He instructed that tippers be barred from operating during morning school arrival hours and afternoon dispersal times, and strict action is to be taken against violators. He further warned that any officer or employee found complicit in negligence or in violation of these directives would face stringent Singh also directed the traffic police, transport, and health departments to ensure all drivers of tippers, trucks, and school buses undergo fitness checks, dope tests, eye exams, and mandatory training in traffic rules. Calling the Samana accident "unbearable," he urged all officers to take a pledge to leave no stone unturned in making roads safer. Operation Sindoor Operation Sindoor: Several airports in India closed - check full list Did Pak shoot down Indian jets? What MEA said India foils Pakistan's attack on Jammu airport: What we know so far "Every life lost on the road is an irreparable tragedy for the family," he serious note of late-night activity near Rajindra Hospital, he directed the district police to ensure roadside eateries and dhabas in the area close on time. He also ordered the construction of speed tables across city roads and highways and the installation of speed limit signage. The RTA was directed to monitor school buses, tippers, and trucks closely, especially those carrying school children, and take strict action against violators. He further instructed that school dismissal timings be staggered to ease traffic congestion around school 121000027 413 |
