SOME 76 pupils made homeless by the Putra Heights gas pipeline fire were given a ride on the first day of school after the long Aidilfitri break.
Several primary school pupils studying in the afternoon session at SK Hicom were accompanied by Selangor state investment, trade and mobility committee chairman Ng Sze Han to SK Hicom on the on-demand van operated by Prasarana Malaysia Bhd, through its subsidiary RapidKL.
The vans departed from the Putra Heights Mosque in Subang Jaya, which is one of two temporary evacuation centres where victims are putting up following the April 1 incident in Subang Jaya.
Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd Central Region chief Khairul Azhar said in addition to schoolchildren, the vans are also available to ferry victims to places like banks and grocery stores.
“We have been offering this service since last Thursday. Initially we offered six vans but added another four within the same day due to demand.
"Now we have a total of 15 vans,” he said.
The service is available from 9am to 9pm.
The students, both primary and secondary, are ferried to and from school during both morning and afternoon school sessions.
A total of 50 drivers and staff have been allocated by Rapid Bus for this initiative.
