School bus tragedy: Kin await full relief

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 25

The families of seven schoolchildren, who died in an accident after their bus plunged into a drain on September 20 at Mahawa village, are awaiting justice.

Alleging police inaction and awaiting compensation announced by the state government, they staged a protest outside the Gharinda police station. They were supported by representatives of various political parties.

The police had registered a case and arrested the driver of the bus, its owner and the principal of the school, but they were later bailed out. The parents alleged that the police became lenient under the pressure of the school management.

Though partial compensation amount was given to the affected parents, they alleged that the school management, which had announced to give Rs 5 lakh each to the family of the deceased, had been pressuring them to withdraw the case filed against them.

They said they got Rs 2 lakh each from the state government and Rs 1 lakh each from Amritsar MP Capt Amarinder Singh. However, an amount of Rs 1 lakh, which was later enhanced to Rs 3 lakh by CM Parkash Singh Badal, is still awaited. Similarly, a separate amount of Rs 2 lakh announced by the PM is yet to reach them.

Mahawa ex-sarpanch Gurnam Singh, whose seven-year-old grandson had died in the mishap, said it was unanimously decided to forego the compensation announced by the school management and demanded action against the negligence of the principal and the school staff concerned. “We demand a government job for one member of the aggrieved families, monetary compensation, repairing the bridge and action against the school management. We have given an ultimatum of seven days to the authorities, else we will intensify our agitation,” he said.

Balwinder Singh, who lost his eight-year-old grandson Sehajpreet and seven-year-old granddaughter Anshpreet Kaur, said, “The police is under the influence of the school management and had been pressurising us to reach a compromise. The school management has withheld the compensation amount with a condition of withdrawing the case,” he said.

Attari DSP Mahinder Singh said the matter was under investigation and the culprits would face action as per the law.