Transport department alone not to blame for Almora bus mishap, multiple factors responsible, say officials
Wednesday, 06 November 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Amid claims that the bus accident in Almora that claimed 36 lives could have been avoided if the Transport officials had not been negligent, the joint commissioner of the Transport department Sanat Kumar Singh said that it is unfair to blame the department solely for the accident. He emphasised that a combination of factors led to the accident, including overcrowding and poor road conditions. The accident occurred when a 42-seater bus carrying 63 passengers veered off a narrow, damaged road at Marchula in Almora district on Monday.
According to Singh, while the Transport department has the authority to regulate and inspect the vehicles and drivers, it lacks the power to control the number of passengers boarding buses on internal routes. The issue of overcrowded buses becomes particularly common after vacations, in this case, after Deepawali, he said, pointing out a similar incident in 2018 when 48 lives were lost in Dhumakot, Pauri district, shortly after the summer break. He said that preliminary investigations suggest that the bus involved in the Marchula accident had mechanical issues, with broken leaf springs reported prior to the accident. Additionally, the road was quite narrow, damaged and there were no crash barriers along the road, which, according to Singh, is a critical safety measure in mountainous areas. The absence of crash barriers was also a major factor in another recent accident in Rudraprayag, where 15 people died in June. “Crash barriers significantly reduce the severity of accidents and can save lives.
The Public Works Department (PWD) was allocated about Rs 700 crore two years ago specifically for installing crash barriers in mountainous areas. Despite this, the installations remain incomplete, contributing to the lack of safety on mountain roads,” he added.
