VISAKHAPATNAM: A day after the bus driver claimed brake failure as the reason for the accident of three school buses at Yarada hill, the Road Transport Authority (RTA) after inspecting the vehicle ruled out brake failure and made it clear that it was a clear cut human negligence. It was also learnt that one of the buses was overcrowded, resulting in injuries to more students in the accident.
Deputy Transport Commissioner (DTC) S Venkatesrwara Rao confirmed to ‘Express’ that they had found that the bus accident was due to human negligence, but not due to any brake failure as claimed by the driver.
It may be recalled that around 200 to 220 students from a private educational institution from Anakapalle came by four buses for picnic to the Yarada beach.
While returning from the picnic, the third bus, alleged to be brake failure, lost control and hit the second bus at a very high speed. The second bus in turn rammed the first one. The alert first bus driver held his nerve and brought the vehicle to the first gear. It was a providential escape for the students as there was no parapet/boundary wall on the ghat road. Students in the second bus were the ones who bore the brunt as the bus was completely crushed from both the sides.
The ghat road was filled with screams. It was the locals of Yarada, who were the first to respond and helped police to shift the students to hospital. Eyewitnesses and the locals allege that the buses were overcrowded. “There were 50 to 60 students in the second bus while its capacity is 30 to 40. That’s why the accident resulted in more students getting injured. However, it was very fortunate that the bus didn’t slip into valley,” said A Babji, an eyewitness and BJP representative of the ward.
As per eyewitnesses, the impact of the hit was so hard that the buses stopped after 50 metres after the first bus hit the second which in turn rammed the last one.
What caused the mishap
The DTC told Express that they had found that the bus accident was due to human negligence but not due to any brake failure as claimed by the driver
“50 to 60 students were in the second bus while the capacity seems to be around 30 to 40. That’s why the accident resulted in more students getting injured,” said A Babji, an eyewitness
The impact of the hit was so high that the buses stopped after moving for 50 metres
New Port inspector Somasekhar Rao said that they too registered FIR as human negligence. But they are yet to receive information from RTA
Broken glass beads, tiffin boxes, shoes, blood marks and displaced seats filled the buses
How it all happened
Around 200 to 220 students from a private educational institution at Anakapalle came by four buses for picnic to Yarada beach
While returning from the picnic, the third bus, due to alleged brake failure, lost control and hit the second bus at very high speed.