Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 18 July 2025
In the wake of a disturbing road accident involving a school van at Dollygunj Junction earlier today, Angshuman Roy, State Youth President, has written to the Director General of Police, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, urging immediate and comprehensive measures to ensure the safety of school-going children.
A video of the accident, which occurred at an intersection at Dollygunj and involved a van carrying school students, was published by Nicobar Times today. Though no fatalities were reported, the incident has triggered widespread concern about the safety of children commuting in privately operated and often unregulated vehicles.
In his letter, Roy highlighted the urgent need for mandatory registration and verification of all school transport vehicles. He stressed that such vehicles must display proper identification, and that drivers should undergo thorough background checks, hold valid licenses, and receive training in basic child safety and emergency response protocols.
The letter also emphasized the necessity of regular mechanical inspections, insurance verification, and strict enforcement of seating limits to prevent overloading—a common concern in both vans and auto-rickshaws used for school transport.
Roy further recommended the installation of essential safety aids such as first-aid kits and the display of emergency contact numbers inside vehicles. He also called for deployment of traffic personnel during peak school hours at high-risk zones like Dollygunj Junction, and proposed public awareness campaigns involving school authorities, parents, and transport operators to promote safe commuting practices.
Describing the Dollygunj incident as a “stark reminder” of the dangers students face daily, Roy urged the authorities to act swiftly and decisively to avert future tragedies.
Copies of the letter were also forwarded to the Chief Secretary of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration.
