Srinagar, April 16 – The Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday imposed a blanket ban on school and college picnics on weekends and public holidays across the Union Territory, following a fatal bus accident that killed two students and injured 21 others in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district last week.
Education Minister Sakeena Itoo announced the ban during a high-level review meeting on student transportation and road safety, calling for urgent reforms in traffic regulations related to educational institutions.
The accident occurred on April 12 when a bus carrying students from Government Degree College, Sogam, overturned en route to a picnic destination. The incident triggered widespread concern over student safety and led to a wave of scrutiny on school transport operations.
“We have a collective responsibility to ensure a safe and secure environment for our students,” Itoo said, while ordering the installation of CCTV cameras and fire safety equipment in all school and college buses—public or private.
Itoo, who also heads the health and medical education portfolio, expressed displeasure over the rise in road accidents involving students and urged the traffic police and transport department to crack down on overspeeding, drunk driving, and licensing violations.
She directed that a strict “no helmet, no fuel” rule be enforced across fuel stations, and called for a special drive to monitor stunt biking and rash driving among juveniles, making parents accountable for such incidents.
The minister instructed the Education Department to carry out an in-depth inquiry into the Kupwara crash and ordered the Director of Colleges to conduct fresh driving tests for all college bus drivers.
In terms of permissions for future student excursions, Itoo said higher secondary and high schools must obtain clearance from their respective Chief Education Officers, while middle and primary schools will need approval from zonal officers. Inter-district and inter-regional picnics will require further clearance from higher education authorities.
The government also plans routine checks on the fitness of all buses ferrying students and will verify key documentation, including driving licenses and vehicle fitness certificates.
The directives form part of a broader push by the administration to tighten safety protocols following increasing concerns about the condition and oversight of school transport services.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
