Avtar Singh

avtar.singh1@htlive.com

Longowal (Sangrur) : Two days after four students, a boy and three girls, in the age group of 3-6 years were burnt alive when a ramshackle mini-van of Simran Public School, Longowal, caught fire in the village, the school remained closed on Monday.

Hard, difficult questions about the future stare at parents of 200 students.

Their concern stems from the fact that the government, in all probability, will cancel the school’s affiliation with the Punjab School Education Board.

This will mean they will have to find another school for their wards, where they would again have to pay the admission fee and other expenses already paid to this school; pertinent to this issue is the fact that only final exams are to be conducted with the academic session set to close in another month or so.

Any refund from Simran Public School is unlikely as the owner-cum-principal Lakhwinder Singh is in police lock-up, having been sent to three-day police custody on Sunday.

“The school is closed and we are expecting that the government will guide us. We have no idea on where we should enrol her now,” said Gurjeet Kaur, mother of Amandeep Kaur, 14, who saved four students from the fire due to her presence of mind.

Gurpreet Kaur, two of whose kids sustained minor injuries but were rescued, demanded that the government should ensure education and safety of children during schools hours and during transport.

“We paid ₹11,000 fee for my son, Manvir Singh. Now, we have to shift our children to another school and pay the fee again. If the government does not act now, such tragedies will continue,” Kaur added.

Lakhvir Singh, another parent, said his daughter and nephew were in nursery and Class-1 in the school and the family had to pay ₹5,000 and ₹7,000 annual fee, respectively, exclusive of transport and other charges, respectively.

“Government Primary School, Sunami Patti, which was functional near our residence was shifted, forcing us to enrol children in this school,” Lakhvir added.

Deputy commissioner Ghanshyam Thori said, “Further action against the school will be taken after magisterial probe report is submitted. Students will be admitted to government schools. If parents want to shift to private schools, it will be their choice.

Chandigarh : The Punjab government will honour Class-9 student Amandeep Kaur for showing exemplary courage by saving four children in the Longowal school van tragedy by giving her a bravery award, chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh announced on Monday. He added the award would be conferred on the Independence Day and the government will sponsor her education. The girl, accompanied by father Satnam Singh and Congress leader Daman Thind Bajwa also met Amarinder on Monday evening. The CM  also consoled Kuldeep Singh Bajwa, a member of the family that lost children in the tragedy.

CM announces bravery award, free education for Amandeep

Sack minister Singla, set up regulatory body, says AAP

Chandigarh : Expressing deep shock over the loss of lives of four innocent children who were charred to death in an old and ramshackle school van in Sangrur district, Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) leader of opposition (LoP) in Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Harpal Singh Cheema has sought the dismissal of state education minister Vijay Inder Singla. He also demanded the setting up of a regulatory body to ensure safety of schoolchildren during transport.