The AP Private Bus Owners’ Association on Tuesday handed over an ex gratia of Rs 1 lakh each to families of two victims of Mahbubnagar accident.
Association president H Subash Chandra Bose said that they were paying the solatium by cheques to the family members who had legal heir certificate with them. “We collected details of the victims and their families from the Kurnool district collector and contacted them,” he said. On Tuesday, though the association planned to issue Rs 1 lakh each to eight families, only two families were given the money as others did not get proper legal heir certificates and some did not turn up to collect the DDs.
Subash said that the remaining families, after getting the certificate, can contact them to collect the ex gratia.
V Ramachandra Reddy, secretary of the association, said that the bus, which met with an accident and caught fire, was covered with comprehensive insurance and the victims’ families can approach the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal. Later, the court will decide the quantum of insurance claim payable based on victim’s age, salary and how much he/she would earn if alive.
Subhash said that since the Mahbubnagar bus accident, they had been limiting the speed of most buses to 90 kmph using an engine control unit. The fixed speed limit cannot be altered easily and only technical experts can do it, he explained. “We are also showing video on safety precautions in our buses. Besides, useful implements like hammers are being properly maintained in buses. We are also taking steps to avoid violation of rules,” he said.
Many buses have been seized by officials of the transport department for being operated as stage carriages though permits were given as contract carriages. Members of the association said that it was an aberration and they had been contesting it in a court of law for a long time.
Victim’s Kin Protests
Abdul Khader, father of Md. Asif, confronted Shakeel Jabbar of Jabbar Travels, questing how he could attend such an event. “My son died in the accident. I demand the arrest of the owner of Jabbar Travels, and a response from them,” Khader demanded.
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