The tragic death of three young schoolchildren in Howrah's Uluberia area has sent shockwaves through the community and exposed glaring gaps in student transportation safety. The Monday afternoon accident has triggered massive public outrage as investigators uncovered multiple safety violations that should have kept the vehicle off the roads entirely.
Multiple Safety Failures Revealed
Forensic examination of the pool car confirmed what grieving parents and angry residents suspected - the vehicle was a death trap waiting to happen. The car was operating without a valid fitness certificate, had dangerously defective brakes, and was running on re-soled worn-out tyres that provided inadequate grip. Adding to the negligence, the vehicle's insurance policy had long expired, making it illegal for road operation.
Despite these critical safety lapses, the pool car continued its daily routine of transporting students to Mother Merina Mission School, putting young lives at risk every single day. The systemic failure extended beyond just the vehicle's mechanical condition to include the driver's fitness for the responsibility he carried.
Driver's Medical Condition Raises Alarm
Owner-driver Shrimanata Bag, who was ferrying seven students during the fatal trip, suffered from serious health conditions that should have disqualified him from driving schoolchildren. Medical reports from Uluberia Medical College and Hospital revealed that Bag had undergone cardiac stenting just months earlier and continued to experience neurological complications.
Howrah SP Subimal Pal stated that Bag's health condition alone made him unfit to operate a vehicle carrying children. The combination of mechanical failures and the driver's compromised ability to react in emergencies created a perfect storm that culminated in tragedy.
The Fateful Turn That Ended Lives
The sequence of events that led to the tragedy began when Bag dropped off two children in Bahira. As he attempted a sharp left turn to avoid another vehicle, the defective brakes and worn tyres failed him completely. The pool car skidded uncontrollably and plunged into a nearby pond, trapping the children inside.
Three children - aged 6, 7, and 11 - lost their lives in the horrific accident. Two other students managed to escape by smashing the windows and are currently undergoing treatment at Uluberia Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay Medical College & Hospital. The quick thinking of these survivors likely saved their lives, but they now bear both physical and psychological scars from the traumatic experience.
Legal Action and Systemic Response
Police have booked driver Shrimanata Bag under multiple sections including rash driving, causing death by negligence, and various violations of the Motor Vehicles Act. The legal proceedings aim to hold accountable those responsible for the preventable tragedy.
Howrah Rural Police have also turned their attention to the school administration, questioning why an obviously unfit vehicle was permitted to transport students. This line of investigation suggests that responsibility may extend beyond the driver to include the educational institution that employed his services.
In response to the incident, the transport department has reiterated the compulsory compliance with pool car guidelines. Howrah authorities have launched a special inspection drive to examine all pool cars operating within the district. The Poolcar Owners' Welfare Association has announced tightened protocols to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The Uluberia tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the consequences when safety protocols are ignored. As families mourn the loss of three young lives, the incident has sparked urgent calls for stricter enforcement of vehicle safety standards and comprehensive background checks for drivers entrusted with children's safety.
