Karnataka Headmaster Suspended for Unsafe Student Trip

In Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka, India, the incharge headmaster of a government school was suspended on Thursday following the discovery of an unauthorized field trip where students were transported in unsafe vehicles, prompting a police case and widespread concern over child safety.

The incident occurred on February 9 at the Government Upgraded Higher Primary School in Balenja village, Belthangady taluk. Students were taken to a private farm in Nalkoor for an educational visit, but instead of using authorized transport, school staff arranged for a pickup vehicle and a tipper truck, which are not permitted to carry passengers under the Motor Vehicles Act and other safety regulations. Preliminary details indicate the vehicles were hired for a combined fee of 3,000 rupees.

A video of the outing, showing girls and female staff in the pickup while boys, girls, and male staff rode in the open tipper lorry, surfaced on social media later that week and quickly went viral. The footage highlighted the risks, including travel on public roads alongside heavy vehicles like tipper lorries, and drew sharp criticism from parents and residents.

Belthangady Block Education Officer...