GURGAON: The Gurgaon district administration has issued a set of directions to schools and traffic authorities to ensure the safe movement of school buses during the monsoon, including a ban on sending buses through waterlogged routes and arrangements for spare buses to rescue stranded students.The order, issued by district magistrate-cum-chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority Uttam Singh, requires Gurgaon Traffic Police to share real-time information on school bus routes that are clear, slow-moving or waterlogged.The traffic police will issue route reports at 5.30am, 10.30am and 12.30pm on days when rainfall has occurred in the preceding 12 hours or an IMD alert is in force.Flash updates will be issued within 30 minutes of an intense spell of rain or if any route becomes impassable.
No buses through waterlogged routes
Schools have been directed not to dispatch buses on routes marked as waterlogged and to use alternate routes wherever available.If no safe alternative route exists, students are to be kept on school premises under supervision and parents informed.Schools have also been asked to stagger student dispersal during heavy rain to prevent buses from entering affected stretches at the same time.No child can be dropped at an unattended or waterlogged stop. Students must be handed over only to a parent or authorised guardian.Every school bus must have a staff escort, while drivers have been directed not to enter waterlogged stretches or underpasses under any circumstances.Schools will also have to inform parents in advance about any change in bus routes or dispersal timings.
Spare buses to be kept ready
The administration has directed traffic authorities and Haryana Roadways to keep spare buses ready on days when an IMD alert is in force or heavy rainfall has occurred.The buses will be used to shift students stranded because a school bus has broken down, become stuck in a waterlogged stretch or is unable to complete its route.Students will be taken either back to school or to the nearest safe location and will not be left unaccompanied.Traffic police have also been directed to deploy personnel and other support at identified problem spots on school bus routes during morning and afternoon dispersal hours.
School routes to get priority for dewatering
GMDA, MCG and other agencies have been directed to give priority to identified school bus routes and areas around school gates for dewatering during the dispersal periods.The order also requires schools to report any incident involving a stranded school bus or a child being put at risk because of waterlogging.The directions will remain in force until September 30, 2026, or until further orders.
