Hazaribag: Officials from the Chatra district transport department asked several schools to follow safety norms after several school buses and vans were found ferrying students more than their respective carrying capacities on Tuesday.Transport officials inspected five vehicles near Kullu Mor. Four minibuses belonging to schools in Chatra town were found ferrying more students than their approved capacity. Inspection also revealed that the buses were lacking in documentation and did not comply with safety norms.District transport officer (DTO) Maheshwari Prasad Yadav said, “Overloading school vehicles amounts to grave negligence and can put the lives of children at risk in the event of an accident.”Following the inspection, concerned schools were directed to update vehicle-related documents and ensure full compliance with prescribed safety standards. Notices were also served on some institutions found violating transport norms during the inspection.Yadav said, “The department communicated its concerns to school managements and stressed that the safety of students could not be compromised under any circumstances.” He added that surprise inspections would continue across the district and strict action would be taken against institutions found violating school transport safety regulations.
A van carrying school students in Chatra on Tuesday