CHENNAI: A 49-year-old man was mowed down by a Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) bus near Manali on Wednesday, even as a retired LIC staff who slipped from another bus a day before at Mylapore was pronounced dead.
The fatal accidents happened soon after 15 passengers, mainly students, were injured as the footboard gave away in an MTC bus near Tambaram on Monday and a 40-year old woman flower vendor was fatally knocked down last week.
According to police, the accident involving the 49-year-old man was reported on Ponneri High Road when an MTC bus (route no.56M) was moving towards Manali. "The victim, M Murugan was crossing the road. The bus driver couldn't stop the vehicle and ran over him, killing him on the spot," a police officer said.
Murugan's body was moved to Government Stanley Hospital for post mortem. Madhavaram Traffic Investigation Wing have registered a case and have arrested the MTC driver.
Meanwhile on Tuesday night, a former LIC officer Srinivasan (75) died after he slipped from an MTC bus while getting off near Luz Corner, Mylapore. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he died, police said. His body was moved to the Government Royapettah Hospital for autopsy and Adyar Traffic Investigation wing registered a case.
The recent accidents have raised questions about the condition of MTC buses. Trade unions have alleged that poor maintenance was one of the major reasons for frequent accidents. M Chandran, vice-president, Tamil Nadu State Transport Employees Federation affiliated with CITU alleged that poor maintenance of fleet, worn out buses and unmotorable roads were causes of such accidents. Buses that have exceeded their age should be replaced, Chandran said.
When contacted senior MTC officials said crew members of the fleets that were involved in fatal accidents were suspended, as per norms. "Action against the crew members (involved in two fatal accidents on Tuesday and Wednesday) would be taken after we receive the FIRs from police. As far as Wednesday's accident is concerned, the driver was not at fault as the accident occurred when the pedestrian tried to cross the road by jumping over the median," officials claimed.
Asked about the incident of the MTC footboard of a bus breaking away near Tambaram, the official said, "We have not given duty for both the driver and conductor. They are likely to be suspended."