Noida : A shocking case of alleged negligence has surfaced in Noida after a UKG student of Amity International School, Sector 44, was reportedly locked inside a school bus for nearly seven hours. The bus was parked in an isolated yard approximately 25 kilometres away from the school premises.
According to the family, the child was found drenched in sweat, crying uncontrollably and in a state of extreme distress. Fortunately, no serious physical harm was reported. However, the incident has raised serious concerns about the school’s transport management and safety protocols.
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Attendance discrepancy raises questions
In an emotional open letter, the child’s mother stated that she personally escorted her son to the bus in the morning and waved goodbye as usual. When she arrived at the designated stop in the afternoon to pick him up, he was missing. She alleged that the school did not inform her about her child’s absence from class. While the class register reportedly marked him absent, the bus attendance register showed his presence. This discrepancy has intensified concerns about procedural lapses. The family said they endured hours of panic and uncertainty before the child was eventually located inside the parked bus.
What went wrong?
As per the parents’ account, the child fell asleep during the commute to school. They allege that the bus staff failed to conduct a mandatory inspection after students disembarked. Instead, the bus was driven to a parking yard nearly 25 kilometres away and left there. The child remained trapped inside for six to seven hours. Standard transport safety protocols require drivers and attendants to physically check each seat after every trip. Additionally, schools are expected to alert parents immediately if a child does not report to class.
Panic after child goes missing
The situation escalated when the mother reached the bus stop after school hours and did not find her child. Initial communication with the school administration reportedly failed to provide clarity. After extensive searching, the child was finally recovered from the bus parked in a secluded area of Noida.
Principal’s response
School Principal Renu Singh stated that the bus had developed a technical fault and students were shifted to another vehicle to reach school. She added that an internal inquiry is underway to determine how the child was left behind. The school has initiated a comprehensive review of its transport protocols.
Serious safety concerns
The incident has triggered multiple pressing questions:
- Why was a final bus inspection not conducted?
- Why were parents not informed when the child failed to attend class?
- How did attendance records show conflicting information?
- Why did it take several hours to trace the child’s location?
The family has demanded strict action against those responsible. The case has once again brought the spotlight on school transportation safety standards and the need for stricter monitoring mechanisms.