Hassan Superintendent of Police Rahul Kumar Shahapurwad has said the principals or headmasters of schools will also be held responsible if any autorickshaw or mini-van is found carrying more than the allowed number of schoolchildren to and from the school. “Everybody has a role in ensuring the safety of schoolchildren. We will hold heads of schools responsible for any negligence,” he told presspersons here on Saturday.
Mr. Shahapurwad had convened a meeting of the school authorities in his office on Saturday. He told all the participants to ensure that autorickshaws can carry not more than six children and vans can carry only up to 10 children. “The school authorities have to ensure this is maintained with immediate effect. We have given them until Tuesday to convey this message to those concerned. From Wednesday onwards, we will begin a drive to check that no vehicle is carrying more than the allowed number of schoolchildren,” he said.
During the drive, apart from the owners or drivers of the vehicles, principals will also be called in. Besides them, parents would be called to the police station to inform them that their cooperation was required to ensure the safety of children. “Many accidents have happened earlier too. The parents should check if the autorickshaw or van drivers were carrying only the allowed number of schoolchildren,” he said.
The officer had convened the meeting in the wake of the recent accident in Trasi village near Udupi, where eight schoolchildren travelling in a minivan died in an accident.
