PNS | DEHRADUN
The bus accident at Bhimtal in Nainital district on Wednesday which claimed the lives of five passengers has reignited concerns over the use of unfit vehicles on Uttarakhand’s mountainous routes. It is being speculated that the Roadways bus, which plunged into a gorge while traveling from Pithoragarh to Haldwani, was not suitable for operation. The vehicle, a model from August 2016, had reportedly exceeded its operational age limit in 2023 and should have been decommissioned according to the State regulations.
As per the rules, buses on mountain routes must not exceed seven years or seven lakh kilometres of operation, after which they should not be operated on roads. However the general manager of Uttarakhand Transport Corporation (UTC) Pawan Mehra told The Pioneer that though there are several old buses running on the mountainous routes, all are being operated after they are declared as fit to operate by respective regional transport officers (RTOs). “The Roadways bus in the Bhimtal accident also had a fitness certificate from the RTO. It had no mechanical problem,” he said.
He claimed that the accident happened when the bus driver tried to save a car that suddenly came in front of the bus from the wrong side. “The bus driver was also not overspeeding as claimed by several media reports. He has the experience of 25 years. It was an unfortunate accident but it is not right to cite wrong reasons for the accident,” he said.
Mehra also said that the UTC is planning to buy more buses for operation in mountain regions. The use of aging vehicles on hill routes has become a contentious issue, with many questioning the Transport department’s commitment to passenger safety. The recent fatal accidents clearly indicate the urgent need for stricter adherence to transport regulations and accountability within the system.
