Every child who travels in a school bus needs approximately 13 inches of sitting space. Students of senior classes require more. However, in school vans, without any regard, three or four students are being forcefully accommodated on a seat. Others have to travel standing due to first-come-first-serve basis.
Boys hanging out from these tightly-packed vans are a common sight as there is no space available inside. This has resulted in a series of accidents involving vehicles transporting school children.
For the acquisition of proper seat students fight with each other, as it is hard to breathe in the vans carrying children almost double their capacity. Parents paying generous amount for pick and drop services should demand school managements to take practical measures to avoid these overcrowded buses.
SIDRA TALHA
Karachi
