Following the death of a six-year-old student in a road accident in Jehanabad, Bihar, on August 28, 2025, the transport department has initiated strong measures. The department has impounded the implicated bus and filed a case against the owner and driver under the MV Act. The investigation revealed that the vehicle was not up to safety standards.
The investigation uncovered that the bus’s fitness certificate had lapsed in February 2024, yet the vehicle continued to operate. The driver was also found without a valid driving license, and the vehicle was missing essential documents such as insurance and a pollution certificate, indicating unsafe and illegal operations.
The driver was also found to have been driving the bus in a dangerous and negligent manner. The transport department has therefore imposed penalties on the driver and the bus owner, who will face stringent action under the MV Act. The department has made it clear that the safety of children is non-negotiable.
The District Transport Officer and Motor Vehicle Inspector in Jehanabad have been instructed to take strict action against school administrations, vehicle owners, drivers, and other responsible parties as per the Motor Vehicles Act and other applicable laws. The department stresses that the safety of children is of utmost importance and any form of negligence in this regard will not be condoned.
In response to the incident, the transport department has mandated inspections of all private schools in the district, to confirm their adherence to government safety standards. Every school vehicle will be assessed for fitness, insurance, pollution certificates, and permits. Vehicles that are found deficient will be subject to immediate action.
The accident occurred when the 6-year-old student, Chiku alias Piyush Kumar, fell from a dilapidated school bus in the Sikaria police station area of Jehanabad district. He was a student of San Public School, Kadouna. The driver’s sudden braking near Sikaria Mod caused Chiku to fall through a large hole in the floor, resulting in his death after being run over by the bus’s rear wheels.