Tragic School Bus Accident Claims Life of Six-Year-Old Girl in Kasganj
A heartbreaking incident in Kasganj district has resulted in the death of a six-year-old girl after she fell through the broken floor of a moving school bus and was crushed under its rear wheel. The tragic event occurred on Saturday as the young student was returning home from school.
Details of the Fatal Incident
The victim, identified as Ananya Kumari, was a UKG student at Mount Dev International School located in Aligarh, near the border with Kasganj district. According to police reports, the accident happened while the bus was in motion, with the child falling through a damaged section of the vehicle's floor.
Eyewitness accounts and family statements reveal that the driver only stopped the vehicle after other children and passersby alerted him to the incident. Family members have alleged serious negligence, claiming the driver remained unaware of what had happened until informed by others. At the time of the accident, no other child was seated next to Ananya.
Delayed Medical Attention and Fatal Injuries
In a disturbing turn of events, instead of immediately rushing the critically injured girl to a hospital, the driver took her to her father at Malsai Chauraha in Kasganj. The child succumbed to her injuries soon after. The girl's brother was also traveling in the same bus when the tragic incident occurred.
The girl's uncle provided harrowing details, stating that the rear wheel had run over her head and chest, causing fatal injuries. Visible tyre marks were reportedly present on her body, confirming the nature of the accident. The father, Ravi Kumar, operates a community service center in the area.
Police Action and Legal Proceedings
Law enforcement authorities have taken swift action following the tragedy. Police detained the bus driver and seized the vehicle involved in the accident. An FIR has been registered at Gangeri police station under BNS Section 105, which addresses culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
The case has been filed against bus driver Chandra Prakash and the private school responsible for the vehicle. DSP Aligarh Sanjeev Kumar confirmed that "an investigation is ongoing and a checking drive against such buses is being conducted" to prevent similar incidents.
City-Wide Safety Enforcement Drive
In response to this tragic incident, authorities launched an extensive city-wide enforcement drive in Aligarh on Sunday. During this operation, 62 vehicles operating with expired fitness certificates were seized. ARTO (enforcement) Pravesh Kumar revealed that in the current financial year alone, action has been taken against 316 school vehicles across Aligarh division.
Kumar emphasized the seriousness of vehicle safety violations, stating that "vehicles found violating safety norms face fines, suspension or cancellation of registration" as part of ongoing efforts to ensure student safety during school transportation.
Broader Implications for School Transportation Safety
This tragic incident has highlighted critical safety concerns regarding school transportation systems. The combination of a broken bus floor, delayed emergency response, and alleged driver negligence has raised serious questions about oversight mechanisms for school vehicles.
Community members and authorities are now calling for stricter enforcement of vehicle safety standards, regular inspections of school buses, and improved emergency response protocols to prevent such devastating accidents in the future.
