Parents in Kashmir Demand Inspection of School Vehicles After Handwara Accident

Srinagar, April 12, Following the Handwara road accident, parents from different areas of the Kashmir Valley have expressed deep concern and strongly demanded immediate inspection of all school vehicles to prevent such unfortunate incidents in the future.

Locals claim that most of the private and government school vehicles currently being used to transport students are not only old and worn-out but several of them are in a completely condemned state.

They alleged that in order to save costs and for their own convenience, many schools have purchased old Swaraj Mazda vehicles, which are being run on the roads after minor repairs and are being used as school vans. According to the parents, these vehicles are in such poor condition that they could cause accidents at any time.

Ghulam Rasool Bhat, a local citizen and father of a student, said: “Every day we send our children to school in these worn-out vehicles, and we constantly live in fear that a mishap could happen at any time. The government must immediately check the fitness of all school vehicles and ban substandard ones.”

Meanwhile, an official from the Transport Department, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that the department regularly conducts fitness checks of school vehicles, but if parents and locals are raising concerns, a fresh inspection would be conducted.

Public circles have also appealed to the administration to implement strict regulations for school transport vehicles, requiring a fitness report every six months, and to immediately ban old and condemned vehicles. Parents have also decided to avoid sending their children in such unsafe vehicles and to take a firm stand with the school administrations regarding this issue.

Notably, two students were killed and 24 injured after a bus carrying students for picnic met with an accident at Vadpora Handwara.