At least 46 school bus accidents took place in several districts in the last seven months, claiming the lives of 23 individuals, including students, teachers, and drivers. The majority of these crashes were attributed to overspeed and driver’s negligence, officials have reported.

On February 9, a bus from Junkiri English Boarding School in Dakshinkali, Kathmandu, crashed while heading towards Farping to drop off students. The driver, Radhakrishna Magar, and student Bipin Shrestha lost their lives when the bus plunged 150 metres into the Dallu river. Forty four others were injured in the incident.

Just days later, on February 12, a bus belonging to SS Academy, Chabahil, Kathmandu, while returning from a picnic, also met with an accident in Shankarapur due to brake failure. The incident killed three people–Krishal Puri, Sushanka Dotel, and Suresh Tamang, while 43 others were injured.

There have been five school bus accidents in the Kathmandu Valley alone in the last seven months. According to the police, these accidents resulted in the deaths of five children, one teacher, and one driver. In the meantime, 174 students, 10 teachers, and 6 drivers and helpers were injured in the incidents.

Police records show that across the country, from July to February, 46 school bus accidents occurred, with 13 students, one teacher, and nine drivers or helpers losing their lives. Authorities have noted Madhesh, Sudurpashchim, Koshi, and Bagmati provinces saw more accidents during the period.

Dinesh Acharya, spokesperson for Nepal Police, stated that the primary causes of these accidents were overspeed and driver’s negligence. “Many accidents happen when school buses are used for picnics or excursions,” he said. “There is a lack of preparation by the school and driver regarding the conditions of the roads taken, leading to accidents.”

Concerns have been raised about the safety of school buses used during the day, as drivers may be fatigued after driving for long hours. Keshav Puri, president of the Nepal National Parents’ Association, stressed the need for stricter guidelines. “It is risky for buses that carry passengers throughout the day to be used for schoolchildren in the afternoon or evening,” he said. “Drivers are tired, and the buses are not designed for children. There should be a rule that each school must have its own buses.”

Acharya also pointed out that some schools are not following basic rules for operating school buses. “There are guidelines for school buses, but their implementation is weak,” he said. “We have observed issues like schools overloading buses with students. We are conducting a detailed study into this.”

DK Dhungana, president of the Private and Boarding Schools’ Organisation (PABSON), acknowledged that both human and technical factors played roles in recent accidents. He said that efforts are underway to provide training to drivers and helpers in collaboration with traffic police. “We are also ensuring that regular bus maintenance is strictly adhered to,” he said, assuring that they remain alert and sensitive to the safety of students.

School bus guidelines

The government introduced the “School Bus Guidelines-2018” to ensure the safety, comfort, and reliability of school transport. These guidelines mandate that school buses be painted yellow with “School Bus” clearly written in black on both the front and back. They also specify that buses carrying students under 12 years old should have 1.5 times the seating capacity, while those carrying older students should adhere to the standard seating capacity.

One of the key regulations prohibits school buses from exceeding a speed of 40 kilometres per hour. The Department of Transport Management is responsible for monitoring adherence to these guidelines, but reports suggest that many schools fail to comply.

In Kathmandu Valley, traffic police recently conducted checks on February 13, finding that five school buses were overloaded with students and had drivers without proper licences. “There were 21 buses in poor condition, and 179 drivers and helpers were given warnings,” said SP Sanjay Bahadur Raut of the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police.

Despite regulations, the use of poorly maintained buses and the overloading of vehicles remain the issues of concern. Keshav Puri further highlighted the risks associated with rented buses that are not designed for children: “Schools must have their own buses. Allowing a rented vehicle to carry children is unsafe, especially when the driver is unfamiliar with the school’s schedule or the specific safety needs of students.”

As the number of school bus accidents continues to rise, authorities are urging stricter enforcement of safety regulations to protect students and staff.