Jammu: In the wake of the tragic Kupwara accident that left two college students dead and 21 injured, the Jammu and Kashmir government has imposed a complete ban on school and college picnics on weekends and holidays across the Union Territory.
Education and Health Minister Sakeena Itoo, chairing a high-level safety review meeting, issued directives for mandatory CCTV cameras and fire safety equipment in all school and college buses. She also stressed the need for stringent enforcement of traffic laws, citing concerns over overspeeding, drunk driving, and violations involving student transport.
The recent April 12 incident in Kupwara, where a Government Degree College Sogam bus overturned en route to a picnic, triggered the safety overhaul.
Itoo called for coordinated efforts among the transport department, police, and academic institutions to create a safer environment for students. She urged the enforcement of the “No helmet, no fuel” rule and pushed for parental accountability in cases involving rash driving or stunt biking by juveniles.
Key directives include:
- Installation of CCTV cameras in all school buses, including private ones.
- Routine fitness checks of buses.
- Re-evaluation of driving licences and fitness certificates of all college bus drivers.
- Establishment of a centralised permission system for school picnics, involving education officers at zonal, district, and directorate levels.
- Picnics outside district limits will need approval from the Director of School Education or the Director of Colleges.
A departmental inquiry into the Kupwara accident has also been ordered. Itoo emphasised that every measure must be taken to ensure students’ safety: “It is our collective responsibility to create a secure environment for our children.”