Dibrugarh: In a move to protect school-going children from road accidents, the district magistrate of Majuli has issued an order prohibiting the movement of all tractors and dumpers within the district during school hours.The order, issued by DM Srishti Singh on Thursday, comes in the wake of a series of accidents involving heavy vehicles that have raised serious safety concerns among parents, school authorities and the public.Majuli, the world’s largest river island and a district of Assam, sees movement of tractors and dumpers due to ongoing bridge and road construction and agricultural activities. The narrow and often congested roads of the island, shared by schoolchildren and heavy vehicles alike, have long been a source of concern for residents and parents.The order, promulgated under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, mandates that all tractors and dumpers shall remain off Majuli’s roads during two critical windows daily — from 8.30am to 9.30am, coinciding with school arrival time, and from 2pm to 3pm, when children disperse and head home. The restrictions will remain in force until further notice.“Incidents of accidents involving tractors and dumpers, particularly during school hours, have been reported, posing a potential threat to the safety and security of school-going children and the general public. Immediate preventive measures are necessary to safeguard public safety and maintain public order in the district,” the order read.The directive applies to all owners, operators, drivers and any other persons associated with such vehicles. Violators will face prosecution under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and any other applicable law. The senior superintendent of police has been directed to ensure strict enforcement of the order across the district.
