SRINAGAR: In a tragic incident that has reignited concerns about student safety across Jammu and Kashmir, two students from Government Degree College (GDC) Sogam died and 21 others were injured when their college bus overturned near Vodhpora in Handwara on Saturday. The students were on an educational excursion when the vehicle reportedly lost control on a curve and flipped over.
One student died on the spot, while another succumbed to injuries during treatment at Government Medical College, Handwara. The injured are undergoing treatment, with at least four in critical condition.
A grieving father of one of the deceased girls shared, “She had only stepped out for a study trip. We never imagined it would end like this. No one from the college informed us properly — we came to know from neighbours and social media.” According to families, there was no formal communication from the college regarding safety arrangements or vehicle details. “No consent forms, no helpline — it’s like we sent our children into the unknown,” another relative said.
This is not an isolated case. According to data collated through RTI responses and Traffic Department, in the past five years, Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed 28,896 road accidents, resulting in 4,251 deaths and 37,725 injuries. Several of these incidents involved student transportation. In November 2023, 39 people, including several students, died when a bus plunged into a gorge in Doda. In December 2023, a student was killed and 24 injured when a minibus overturned in Rajouri.
Educational excursions have repeatedly turned fatal. In June 2023, two students drowned during school picnics in Sonamarg and Kokernag respectively. According to the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the Kashmir Valley reported 49 drowning incidents between January 2023 and March 2024, with 35 student bodies recovered.
Most of these incidents involved young students on unsupervised or poorly managed outings. Some RTI responses reveal that only less than 15% of schools sought prior transport verification or excursion route clearance from local authorities.
Sources within the education department confirmed that safety protocols for student transport and trips are largely informal. “Colleges are supposed to submit itineraries, obtain permissions, and ensure vehicle fitness, but enforcement is weak,” said an administrator from a district college on condition of anonymity. There are no standardised emergency drills or training for staff accompanying students. “Most faculty don’t even have basic first-aid knowledge,” the official added.
Under the Motor Vehicles Act, school and college vehicles are categorized as contract carriages, and must adhere to strict safety norms — including valid fitness certificates, speed governors, and emergency exits. However, a senior Transport Department official admitted that enforcement is patchy. “Random inspections happen, but in rural belts, compliance is often assumed rather than verified — especially when institutions hire private vehicles,” he said.
Following the Doda tragedy last year, the department proposed stricter rules and institutional coordination. “But the gap remains between policy and practice,” the official conceded.
Law enforcement and rescue officials highlight another concern: poor emergency response systems in hilly areas. “Accidents in regions like Handwara and Doda are difficult to manage due to terrain and lack of trained trauma responders,” an SDRF officer said. Most rural hospitals lack critical care facilities or rescue tools. “Basic life-saving interventions are delayed by hours — and that’s fatal,” he added.
Saturday’s incident in Handwara serves as a grim reminder of the urgent need to overhaul how student safety is managed — from school buses to field trips.
Riyaz Ahmed, Retd Traffic Officer, J&K Police and Dr Junaid Querishi, child psychologist, suggest that the education department and district administration must jointly develop and enforce a unified safety framework, including mandatory safety audits for school and college vehicles, compulsory emergency training for staff, pre-approved excursion checklists, and parent consent procedures and real-time communication systems.
Have you liked the news article?
