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Schoolgirl hurt in hit-and-run

by REJIMON K
January 21, 2013 , 10 : 35 pm | 2 comments

Most parents of Indian school students complain that a majority of the school bus drivers indulge in reckless driving. �File photo for illustration purpose only

Muscat: The parent of a Class XI Indian school student has lodged a complaint with the police after his daughter was allegedly hit by a school bus, Monday. "My daughter was on her way back home. While she was walking on the side of the road, a school bus hit her and sped away at around 2:35pm," the father of the accident victim said.

"She fell down as the rear mirror banged on her shoulder. Eventually, the back wheel hit her leg. She and the students inside the bus screamed. The driver stopped the bus but he didn't step out to see what had happened to her and simply drove away," he added.

The victim was taken back home by her friends and later to the hospital by her parents.
"She was limping while on her way back home and was crying due to the unbearable pain. After examination, the medics said there is nothing much to worry, even though there is swelling and bruises," the father said.

Meanwhile, some parents of the Indian school students expressed their serious concern, saying it is frightening to see reckless driving by a majority of the school bus drivers. "You will seldom see them driving responsibly. They often forget that they are transporting children and these are not racing vehicles. I have even seen these drivers abusing grown up school girls. Everything is fun for them," a parent said.

Meanwhile, friends of the accident victim said the driver took the incident in a lighter vein saying it was not his fault. The father of the accident victim has also informed the school authorities about the incident. "I went to the school to inform them about the incident. I approached the vice-principal and he directed me to the operations manager. Even though they listened to me, I felt disappointed," he said.

In October 2012, a 10-year-old student died on the spot and 14 other Indian School Seeb students were injured when a 15-seater van crashed into the road divider in Seeb suburb of Muscat. Quoting a senior school official, the media reported that speeding and inexperience of the school bus driver had caused the accident.

"We know that Royal Oman Police (ROP) is providing various training programmes for school bus drivers. But more than that, the ROP needs to act tough on these rogue drivers. "The school authorities should also act responsibly. They should keep a tab on these bus operators and make sure that the students' lives are not put in danger," the parents added.

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