UKG Student Locked Inside School Bus for Nearly Seven Hours in Noida
A shocking incident unfolded in Noida on Thursday when a UKG student of Amity International School was allegedly left locked inside a school bus for nearly seven hours after falling asleep during his morning commute. The young boy was only discovered after an extensive search by his frantic parents, who located him at a parking yard approximately 25 kilometers away from the school's Sector 44 campus.
Child Found Crying and Drenched in Sweat
According to the child's parents, when they finally reached the bus parking yard in the afternoon, they found their son crying inside the vehicle, visibly frightened and soaked in sweat. The parents described the harrowing experience of not knowing their child's whereabouts for hours, with the father stating, "I cannot explain the fear and helplessness of those hours, not knowing where your child is, whether he is safe, whether something unimaginable has happened."
How the Incident Unfolded
The morning began like any normal school day. The parent personally put his son on the school bus from their housing society and waved goodbye as the child boarded. However, the family believes the boy dozed off during the journey and remained unnoticed even after the bus reached the school campus. Neither the driver nor the bus attendant reportedly conducted a thorough check of the vehicle before it departed the premises.
The bus then proceeded to a parking yard about 25 kilometers away, where it remained stationed for several hours with the child still locked inside. The parents became alarmed in the afternoon when the bus returned without their son. "When the bus came back in the afternoon, and we went to receive him, he was not there," the parent recounted.
Conflicting Records and Delayed Discovery
When the family contacted the school administration after their child failed to return home at the scheduled time, they received conflicting information. School records showed the child had been marked absent in the classroom register, yet transport records allegedly indicated he was marked present in the bus attendance register.
With no clear information about their son's whereabouts, the parents began tracing the bus route and visiting possible parking locations. Their search eventually led them to the distant parking yard where they discovered their child locked inside the vehicle.
School Response and Safety Review
Police were informed of the incident in the afternoon, though the family did not file a formal written complaint. The circumstances raised serious questions about potential lapses in the school's transport safety protocols.
In a statement, school principal Renu Singh explained, "The school administration was informed of an incident today involving a student who remained on a school bus following a vehicle change necessitated by an unforeseen mechanical issue." She emphasized that immediate action was taken once the matter was brought to their attention, and the child was safely reunited with his parents.
Singh stated that management had taken "serious cognisance" of the incident and initiated a comprehensive review of transport protocols. "Appropriate and strict action is being undertaken to ensure accountability, and additional safeguards are being reinforced to prevent any recurrence," she assured, adding that the school remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of student care and safety.
Broader Implications for Child Safety
This alarming incident highlights critical vulnerabilities in school transportation systems and underscores the importance of rigorous safety checks. The seven-hour ordeal experienced by the young student has prompted calls for enhanced protocols to ensure no child is ever left unattended in school vehicles again.
As schools across the region review their own transportation safety measures, this case serves as a stark reminder of the responsibility educational institutions bear for student welfare during transit. The emotional trauma experienced by both the child and his family during those missing hours cannot be overstated, making this incident a cautionary tale for all schools operating transportation services.
