Chandigarh , Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has expressed shock and grief over the tragic demise of four children in a school van fire incident near Longowal in Sangrur district on Saturday, and ordered a magisterial enquiry into the incident. The chief Minister has also announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 7.25 lakhs each to the families of the victims.
The Chief Minister also ordered the Transport Department to immediately launch a statewide checking of all school buses to ensure safety and security of the students to avoid recurrence of such tragic mishaps in the future. Captain Amarinder also directed the District Child Protection Officers of Social Security Department to keep a strict vigil on schools vehicles violating provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act and also the school managements that are using worn out vehicles for transportation of students.
He has also ordered the Transport Department to take strict action against any erring school managements, found violating the norms and guidelines prescribed under the various provisions of motor vehicle act.
The tragedy occurred when the ill-fated school van was on its way to drop the kids of nursery wing of a private schools, Longowal at their respective dropping points.
On the directions of the Chief Minister, Education Minister Vijay Inder Singla along with Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori and SSP Dr. Sandeep Garg rushed to the spot and the hospital and met the victims’ families.
A case under section 304 of the IPC has already been registered against the school management
