Family members of victims whose lives were consumed by fire in the bus accident on October 30 in Palem of Mahabubnagar district on Friday staged a demonstration, regretting that 50 days after their lives were shattered, there is no solace from the State government.
A host of political leaders and others came forward to express their solidarity and promising their support, resolved to intensify the agitation. Soon after the accident that left charred to death, 45 passengers of a Bangalore-Hyderabad Volvo bus operated in the name of Jabbar Travels, an organisation called Action Committee of Mahabubnagar Bus Fire Accident Victims was formed.
At a dharna opposite Indira Park here on Friday, the agitators regretted that the families of the victims were running from pillar to post in search of justice and relief. Titled ‘Aarani Mantalu’ (Flames that are yet to be extinguished), the demonstration was initiated by the committee coordinator, Dr. D. Sudhakar.
CPI MLA Chandravathi regretted that Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka Governments were passing the buck.
“How will we find out who is the owner of the bus?,” she asked promising the agitators that when Assembly sessions starts again, she would raise the issue.
Others who addressed the gathering included CPI city secretary Bose, Prof. Ramesh Reddy and advocate Srilakshmi Thota representing the Aam Aadmi Party and Dosapati Ramu of the Lok Satta Party.
Their demands were resignation of Transport Minister Botcha Satyanarayana, owning moral responsibility, arrest of J.C. Prabhakar Reddy, brother of former Minister J.C. Diwakar Reddy, ex-gratia of Rs. 25 lakh per victim and a government job for one eligible member in the family, apart from steps to prevent recurrence of such accidents.
Tears in their eyes, many of the victims’ family members recalled their travails and how they were struggling against what they termed an ‘unresponsive administration and government.
