Gurugram announces measures to safeguard schoolchildren in waterlogged routes

GURUGRAM: In view of waterlogging and traffic congestion following heavy rainfall, the district administration has taken special measures to ensure the safety of schoolchildren, an official said on Tuesday as an intense spell of rain battered the city, inundating roads and bringing the city to a standstill. On the day, District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) chairperson and Gurugram Deputy Commissioner (DC) Uttam Singh held an inter-departmental coordination committee meeting in view of difficulties faced by school buses at some locations following Monday's rainfall.

According to an official statement, the DC issued necessary directions to officials of concerned departments to ensure safe movement of schoolchildren. Accordingly, the DDMA has issued detailed guidelines for safe operation of school buses. As part of the directive, the Gurugram Traffic Police -- in coordination with school authorities -- must establish a system for sharing real-time information on waterlogging along school bus routes. On rainy days or when there is a weather warning, reports will be issued at 5.30 am, 10.30 am and 12.30 pm. In addition, in event of heavy rainfall or sudden blockage of any route, a flash update must be issued within 30 minutes.

"All schools in the district have been directed not to send school buses through routes declared waterlogged and to use safe alternative routes wherever available. If no safe alternative route is available, students must be kept on school premises under staff supervision and parents must be informed immediately. During heavy rainfall, dispersal of students will also be carried out in phases, taking the waterlogging situation into account," the DC said.

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Safe movement of school buses

The DC also directed that no child be dropped off at a waterlogged or unsupervised bus stop. Children must be handed over only to their parents or authorised guardians. Every bus must have a staff escort, adequate drinking water, and drivers must be clearly briefed not to take buses through waterlogged routes or underpasses. In case of any change in route or timings, schools must inform parents in advance through SMS or the school app. During the meeting, the deputy commissioner of police (traffic) was directed to ensure deployment of traffic personnel, tow vehicles and police vehicles at sensitive locations along school bus routes.

During dispersal hours from 7 am to 9 am and 12 pm to 3 pm, safe movement of school buses through affected routes should be given priority. During rainfall or in view of weather warnings, additional Haryana Roadways buses must kept on standby. These buses will be stationed at pre-identified locations and will be used to transport students to safety if a school bus gets stuck or breaks down due to waterlogging.

Traffic police updates to schools within 15 minutes

The district education officer and district elementary education officer have been instructed to prepare, within 24 hours, a dedicated WhatsApp broadcast group and bulk SMS/email list covering heads and transport in-charges of all government, private, aided and recognised schools in the district. Every report or flash update received from the traffic police must be forwarded to all schools within 15 minutes. The system will cover schools across the district, including Sohna, Pataudi, Manesar, Farrukhnagar and Badshahpur.

A weekly compliance report in this regard must be submitted to the district administration every Monday. The directions state that every school must appoint a transport in-charge or route safety officer. During rainfall, students must not be assembled in basements or any low-lying areas on the school premises. Schools must also ensure inspection of electrical panels and exposed wires on their premises.

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Officials at waterlogging points

Any incident involving a school bus getting stuck in waterlogging or a situation in which the safety of a child is at risk must be reported immediately to GMDA and MCG helpline numbers. GMDA, Haryana Roadways, MCG, Municipal Council Manesar, Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP), Public Works Department (Buildings and Roads) and the National Highways Authority of India have been directed to give priority to drainage along school bus routes and around schools.

Officials will remain present at identified waterlogging points during and after rainfall. Additional DC Sonu Bhatt has been assigned responsibility for monitoring compliance with the directions. He will hold a joint review meeting every Friday with the traffic police, education department, GMDA, Haryana Roadways and the MCG.