Schools receive directions to avoid trips at night after Palakkad mishap

Nine people, including five students of Baselios Vidyanikethan Senior Secondary School in Ernakulam, were killed after a private tourist bus hit a state-run KSRTC bus from behind at Vadakkenchery in Palakkad district.

Following the Palakkad bus mishap and for the safety of students and staff members, Minister for General Education V Sivankutty has directed schools in Kerala to refrain from going on excursions during the night. "Schools have been directed to avoid excursions during the night, especially between 9 pm and 6 am," Sivankutty said. "They have also been directed to only avail vehicles for study tours from the list of tour operators approved by the Kerala Tourism Department," the minister added.

School trips must be relevant to children's learning

He asked schools to refer to the order dated March 2, 2020, released by the Department of Public Education for more information. The minister also made it plain that it is indeed the head(s) of the institution that's responsible for the trip. He said any trips undertaken must be relevant to the children's learning.

Nine people, including five students of Baselios Vidyanikethan Senior Secondary School in Ernakulam, were killed after a private tourist bus hit a state-run KSRTC bus from behind at Vadakkenchery in Palakkad district, Kerala Road Transport Minister Antony Raju said on Thursday.

The minister said the accident occurred around 11.30 PM on Wednesday when the private bus, which was travelling at a high speed, while attempting to overtake a car, hit the rear end of a Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus.

"Both the buses went off the road as a result. Nine people, including five students and a teacher, were killed in the accident," he told the media.

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