Dewas school van driver arrested after abandoning children in flooded underpass
Synopsis
A school van driver in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh, removed police barricades, drove into a flooded railway underpass, and then abandoned the children inside when the vehicle stalled — before fleeing. Residents and Dial-112 rescued all the children. CM Mohan Yadav has ordered action against both the driver and the school operator, raising questions about how monsoon safety norms are enforced on private school transport.
Key Takeaways
A City Convent School van driver in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh removed barricades and drove into a waterlogged railway underpass on 25 August 2025 .
The driver allegedly abandoned the children when the van stalled mid-way, and fled the scene.
All children were rescued safely by local residents and the Dial-112 team using a rope.
The driver was arrested and an FIR registered under Sections 281 and 285 of the BNS and the Motor Vehicles Act.
A separate case was filed against the school operator under Section 223 of the BNS for alleged safety norm violations.
CM Mohan Yadav directed all school managements to strictly follow monsoon transport safety norms.
A school van driver was arrested in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh, on 25 August 2025 after he allegedly drove a vehicle carrying students into a heavily waterlogged railway underpass despite barricades placed by authorities, then abandoned the children mid-way and fled. All children were rescued safely by residents and emergency services. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav took serious note of the incident and ordered immediate action.
What Happened at the Civil Lines Underpass
The incident took place at a railway underpass in the Civil Lines area of Dewas, where traffic had been barricaded as a precautionary measure due to severe waterlogging caused by monsoon rains. According to the Chief Minister's Office, the driver of a Magic van belonging to City Convent School removed the barricade and drove into the flooded underbridge. When the van stalled mid-way, the driver allegedly abandoned the schoolchildren inside and fled the scene.
On receiving information, local residents, the Dial-112 emergency response team, and Civil Lines police rushed to the spot and rescued all the children safely using a rope.
FIR Registered, Driver Arrested, Vehicle Seized
Following directives from the Chief Minister, Dewas Collector Rituraj Singh and Superintendent of Police Puneet Gehlod ensured swift action. Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the driver at Civil Lines police station under Sections 281 and 285 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and relevant provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act. The driver was arrested and the van seized.
A separate case was registered against the school operator under Section 223 of the BNS for allegedly disregarding prescribed safety standards and guidelines related to character verification of staff. The matter remains under investigation.
CM Yadav Issues Monsoon Safety Directive
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav stressed that the safety of schoolchildren is the government's top priority and that no negligence would be tolerated. He directed that drivers must not take vehicles through waterlogged routes or over flooded bridges and culverts under any circumstances. School managements across the state have been asked to strictly adhere to prescribed safety norms for student transport, particularly during the monsoon season.
Why This Incident Stands Out
The Dewas case is notable because the barricade was physically removed by the driver before entering the restricted zone — indicating a wilful breach of safety protocols rather than an accidental oversight. This comes amid a broader pattern of monsoon-related transport incidents in Madhya Pradesh, where waterlogging regularly disrupts road and rail connectivity. The involvement of a school vehicle carrying minors has drawn particular scrutiny from state authorities. The dual FIR — one against the driver, another against the school operator — signals that the administration is widening accountability beyond the individual at the wheel.
Point of View
And the school operator now faces a separate criminal case — yet such dual accountability is rarely applied consistently across India's vast private school transport ecosystem. The CM's swift directive is welcome, but monsoon safety circulars are issued every year with limited enforcement follow-through. The real test is whether Madhya Pradesh uses this case to build a verifiable compliance mechanism for school vehicle operators, or whether this remains a one-off political response to a viral incident.
NationPress
26 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Dewas school van incident on 25 August 2025?
A school van driver in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh removed police barricades and drove a vehicle carrying students into a heavily waterlogged railway underpass in the Civil Lines area. When the van stalled mid-way, the driver allegedly abandoned the children and fled. All children were subsequently rescued safely by local residents and the Dial-112 emergency team.
Was the school van driver arrested?
Yes, the driver was arrested by Civil Lines police in Dewas. An FIR was registered against him under Sections 281 and 285 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and relevant provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, and the vehicle was seized.
What action was taken against the school operator?
Police registered a separate case against the operator of City Convent School under Section 223 of the BNS for allegedly disregarding prescribed safety standards and guidelines related to character verification of staff. The matter is currently under investigation.
How did Chief Minister Mohan Yadav respond to the incident?
CM Mohan Yadav took serious note of the incident and directed the district administration and police to initiate immediate action. He stressed that schoolchildren's safety is the government's top priority and ordered that drivers must not take vehicles through waterlogged routes under any circumstances.
Who rescued the children from the stalled van?
Local residents, the Dial-112 emergency response team, and Civil Lines police reached the spot after receiving information and rescued all the children safely using a rope.
