In a shocking incident, the Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) of Pratapgarh, Dilip Kumar Gupta, seized a school bus full of children, leaving them stranded for two hours in the scorching heat. The bus was taken to the RTO office after being flagged during a routine inspection in Biharganj, where it was found lacking essential documents like a permit, insurance, and fitness certification. A fine of Rs 40,000 was imposed on the vehicle.The children, trapped inside the bus under the blazing sun without food or water, began suffering from heat and exhaustion. Despite desperate pleas from family members who rushed to the scene, the ARTO refused to release the bus, ignoring their requests.प्रतापगढ़ के ARTO ने गजब कांड कर दिया...ARTO ने बच्चों से भरी स्कूल बस जब्त कर ली।बस RTO कार्यालय में खड़ी करवा दी।बच्चे 2 घंटे तक तेज धूप में भूख-प्यास से तड़पते रहे। पता चलने पर परिजन पहुंचे और हाथ जोड़कर ARTO के सामने गिड़गिड़ाने लगे, लेकिन अधिकारी ने किसी की बात नहीं… pic.twitter.com/jgLGudZD85— Kavish Aziz (@azizkavish) September 24, 2024As temperatures soared, some of the childrens health started to deteriorate. It wasnt until the District Magistrate (DM) was informed that action was taken. On the DMs orders, the bus was finally released after two hours, and the children were sent home safely.Investigation launched following public outcryThe seizure of the bus sparked public outrage, leading to a formal investigation. On Tuesday, Dr Sanjeev Gupta, Divisional Transport Officer (Enforcement), arrived from Prayagraj to review the case. After recording statements from the school staff, it was revealed that the ARTO had been arranging for another vehicle, but the situation escalated when a man began protesting the childrens plight.School operators had already been notified several times to update their vehicle documents, and this particular bus was among the 629 school vehicles in the region that had failed fitness tests. Over 231 vehicles, including the seized bus, had their registrations suspended due to non-compliance with safety standards.Ongoing issue of unfit school vehiclesDespite ongoing efforts and multiple inspections, unfit school vehicles continue to operate on the roads. The Transport Commissioner had previously ordered strict action against non-compliant school vehicles, and the latest incident has underscored the urgency of the issue.
