Kids faint in hot weather as traffic cops hold up buses for checking

Schoolchildren, along with their parents have reasons to get alarmed by the overenthusiastic Gwalior Traffic Police. In a blatant case of over enthusiasm, the city traffic police stopped buses carrying schoolchildren in the scorching midday heat at various points in the name of checking.

The checking that began around 1 pm, continued till 2.30 pm while the young children agonized inside the locked buses, drenched in sweat. Some children fainted due to lack of ventilation or AC inside the buses.

The Gwalior Traffic Police conducted checking of 70 vehicles, including buses, vans, mini buses and autos belonging to Rishikul Vidya Niketan, Little Angels School, Ramkrishna School, Wendy School and Doon Public School at 7 points in the city. 35 of the vehicles were found violating the Supreme Court norms for school vehicles. A total of 7 vehicles were s while the remaining were issued challans.

The traffic cops drew flak from various quarters including the District Collector after videos showing children standing on the roads in the midday heat went viral on social media sites. Some videos circulating on various sites showed children vomiting in the heat and humidity as temperatures soared above 37 degree Celsius. Some policemen were also seen trying to stop students from making videos on their mobiles.

Ajay Dhakad, resident of Latipur colony said that he got a call from the bus driver around 2 pm that his child studying in the LKG had vomited due to heat exhaustion.

He added that when he reached the Akashwani junction he found his son drenched in sweat, vomiting profusely while the policemen were checking the bus papers.

When asked about the checking, the policemen replied that they conduct the checking as and when they get orders and that they are only doing their duty.

Speaking to the media persons, Ashok Verma, the District Collector said that the manner and timing of the checking was totally wrong.

He added that the checking could have been done inside the school premises or at the gate or when the school buses were unoccupied by children. He further said that instructions will be sent out to make sure that such incidents are not repeated.