SCHOOL buses will now pick pupils starting 7:30am instead of 6:00 am for the time that rains continue to avoid a repeat of a freak accident where a school bus was driven into a flooded gorge.

Felician Mtahengerwa, the Arusha district commissioner, said parents should not release their children before it 7:00 when it is no longer dark, affirming that he was speaking for Paul Makonda, the regional commissioner.

He issued this directive at the Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium during funeral services for seven pupils from Ghati Memorial School who on Friday, with police and rescue teams taking many hours to find all the bodies.

He said when it is too early the roads are empty and help can be difficult to obtain in case of a mishap, informing the mourners that the government carried the cost of the funerals.

Each of the families losing a child in the accident has been handed 14m/- to help in burial expenses and condolence, he said, expressing sadness that the dreams of the children have been erased.

“We commend all those who came out to search for the children, we need to learn from what has happened,” he said, reminding drivers that running waters are not the right place to try anything.

It is time for the general public to take precautions and especially motorists, he emphasised, noting that the pupils’ deaths were avoidable had the reckless driver not tried to force the crossing.

 The family of Brian Tarangie, a Good Samaritan who died while trying to save the children, was handed 5m/-condolence and burial expenses support.

Archbishop Isaac Amani of the Arusha Catholic archdiocese said during the service that the children had dreams, shattered. Their deaths are a blow to the country, he said, appealing to motorists to obey road safety rules.

They need to emphasise on maintaining discipline, respecting the dignity of others and protection of minors, he said, urging drivers and young people generally to stop drinking alcohol.

School spokesman pastor Boniface Antony said the school has lost eight children, where the tragedy is not only for the parents and families but for them as well.

City mayor Maximilian Irange said that drivers of school buses must be those with experience, while there is also need to control the speed of the buses.