KOCHI: The Kerala State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC) has directed the City Police Commissioner to launch an inquiry and submit a report within three weeks on the alleged negligence by the employees of a private bus in providing timely medical aid to a person who suffered a cardiac arrest during the bus journey.
“The action of the bus crew is a severe violation of human rights. They should have given a consideration that he was a passenger of their bus,” according to an order issued by KSHRC Acting Chairperson P Mohanadas on Wednesday.
“City Hospital was near to the location where the passenger suffered uneasiness. The bus employees have a moral responsibility to take the passengers to a hospital if they suffer any illness. The conductor and driver who possess valid licence have the responsibility to provide first aid to the passenger. The duo failed to perform their responsibility as per the law, leading to the death of Lakshmanan,” the order stated.
Earlier, the city police had booked the conductor of the private bus in connection with the incident. According to the police officers, a case under IPC section 304 (A) (causing death by negligence) has been registered against Bijoy Antony, 36, of Keezhmadu, who was the bus conductor. The case was registered following a preliminary investigation, which revealed the accused had failed to ensure timely medical help to the unconscious man.
The incident occurred on Saturday when 40-year-old T K Lakshmanan, a native of Sultan Bathery and an employee of a hotel here, fell unconscious soon after boarding the bus to Palarivattom from Maharaja’s College Ground.
However, the bus continued to proceed from Shenoys Junction despite a fellow passenger’s request to rush him to the nearest hospital.The bus crew did not heed to his request and continued the trip up to Edapally. As the protests by fellow passengers intensified, the crew asked the co-passengers to take the affected to the hospital and dropped them at Edapally, nearly eight km away. Later he died at the hospital.