MUMBAI, July 31: The death of a 10-year-old boy of Fatima High School, Vidya Vihar, who was run over by the school bus yesterday, has sparked off a debate on a school's role and responsibility in students' safe return home. Sanooj A Pudussery died after the rear wheel of the bus crushed him while he rushed to the door to grab a window seat.

The Principal, Father Francis Gonsalves, maintained the school did not witness such a tragic incident ever since the bus service was introduced 25 years ago. He said the child broke the queue in his anxiety for a window seat.

Fr Gonsalves admitted that no teacher supervised children queuing up for the bus. But he maintained that he kept tabs on the children as they line up for their buses. ``Yesterday, Pudussery happen to be on second trip and I was not present during that time,'' he said.

He denied any lapse as alleged by the general secretary of the local Bharatiya Janata Party. According to the BJP office bearer M Bhanushali the incident showed that while the school takes hefty donations, student's welfare is neglected. The principal termed the charge as a result of failure to secure seats for his candidate in the school. However, the school is reviewing the maintenance of transport and disciplining of students during the bus journey. ``We will try to see that better discipline is observed. If not, we have little option but to stop the bus service.''

Soonaj's father, Antoo Pudussery, would not like to blame anyone. ``It is God's will.'' He said there was reportedly a virtual stampede among the students to grab the best seats in the bus. Two other students were also slightly injured in the process. ``Had there been some supervision, perhaps the incident could have been averted,'' he said. Principal H N Pal of Sir J J Girl's High School felt that the schools should be responsible enough to post a supervisor or teacher to monitor the students boarding their respective buses. Principal A Ramaswamy of South Indian Education Society School disclosed that in her school teachers ensure the children are safely tucked in their seats.

In Convent of Jesus & Mary, Sr Edel D'Souza maintained that beside teachers, each bus has a helper to see that children reach home safely. However, she maintained that it is not possible for teachers to shoulder the burden of seeing off the children to their bus.``The presence of teachers doesn't help much with unruly kids. Discipline is the only answer.''

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.