Video: PACDA issues bus advisory as schools reopen in Oman

Muscat: With the start of the second academic semester in the Sultanate’s schools, the Public Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulance (PACDA) has asked bus drivers to look after students, to avoid students being left behind on the bus.

PACDA said in a notice: "With the return of our students to school and to avoid incidents of forgetting students on buses, the General Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulance calls on bus owners and drivers to ensure that the bus is free of all students before leaving, to avoid the risk [of children being forgotten]."

Last year, an eight-year-old Sudanese boy died after he was left alone in a locked bus for hours in Ruwi.

An official at the Public Authority for Civil Defence and Ambulance confirmed the incident, while Royal Oman Police (ROP) said that the boy was left behind in the bus since morning, and was found in a critical condition.

"He was transported to the hospital but he was declared dead on arrival," ROP said.

Today, the second academic semester starts for Oman’s government schools.