school bus

Transport authorities here have come down heavily on illegal vehicles functioning as school buses at Pathsala in lower Assam’s Barpeta district, after repeated incidents of such vehicles putting students’ lives in jeopardy reported during the last few months.

The Barpeta district transport department seized documents of several school vans and buses for flouting safety norms, informed district transport officer (DTO) Gautam Das. Unregistered vehicles without proper permits, working as school buses, have proven to be a menace here.

The Transport department officials have emphasized on using vehicles with fitness certificates and proper road permits, to ferry children to and from schools.

DTO Das said that they have warned the erring vehicles to strictly follow the safety guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court.

“All school vehicles will face action, if they don’t follow the safety norms laid down by Supreme Court. They must fall in line or have to face action,” Das told reporters here.

Sasanka Talukdar is Northeast Now Correspondent in Pathsala. He can be reached at: [email protected]