Rising Safety Concerns for School Students in Rural Areas
In rural parts of Chengalpet and Kanchipuram districts, incidents of school students dangerously traveling on the footboards and hanging from the windows of government buses are increasingly alarming. Despite the availability of vacant seats, students often prefer to travel in perilous manners, posing risks to their safety.
Recent Incident Highlights the Issue
The issue gained significant attention after a tragic incident involving a 14-year-old student, Dheen Dayalan, from a government school near Mamallapuram, who fell from a bus footboard and lost his life. This incident has intensified scrutiny, prompting investigations by the Mamallapuram police.
Continued Risk-Taking Despite Risks
Community members reported that, despite the recurring accidents, the culture of dangerous travel among students persists. At a government higher secondary school in Pappankulam, many children from nearby villages rely on government buses, yet a troubling trend of hanging from footboards and window bars has been noted. Local residents express their fear at witnessing these risky behaviors.
Challenges for Transport Workers
Transport personnel point out that while drivers and conductors often caution students, some respond defiantly, sometimes even threatening the staff. The sparse presence of traffic police in rural areas complicates efforts to enforce safety.
Call for Collective Action
Social activists recommend that schools and parents work together to educate students about the dangers of such reckless behavior. They advocate for the transport department to increase bus frequency during peak hours on routes serving multiple schools, addressing the overcrowding issue that leads to these unsafe practices.
To prevent further tragedies, a coordinated response involving schools, parents, transport authorities, and law enforcement is deemed essential.
