Pune: MLA Siddharth Shirole Raises Concerns Over School Bus Safety in Vidhan Sabha
Siddharth Shirole, Member of Legislative Assembly from Shivajinagar Constituency, Pune, highlighted a critical issue regarding school bus safety during the Vidhan Sabha session on Tuesday, December 17. He urged the Maharashtra government to take immediate action to ensure the safety of students traveling in school buses and vans.
The urgency for this matter arose after a school bus carrying students caught fire in Kharadi, raising serious questions about the safety standards of the vehicles used for school transportation. Pune alone has over 8,000 school buses and vans operating in the city and its surrounding areas, making a thorough safety audit essential.
MLA Shirole emphasized the need for:
- Conducting a comprehensive safety audit of all school buses.
- Implementing preventive measures to avoid future incidents.
- Training school staff to manage emergencies effectively.
He proposed several steps for the fire department to ensure safety, including:
- Identifying the correct number and placement of fire extinguishers in buses.
- Providing proper training for the usage of fire extinguishers.
- Establishing immediate evacuation protocols to safely rescue children during emergencies.
“Swift action is the need of the hour to safeguard the lives of our students and prevent such incidents in the future,” MLA Shirole stated.
