The probe by the Government Railway Police (GRP) into the causes for the train mishap that resulted in the death of 14 children and two others when it rammed the school bus they were travelling in, has almost confirmed that it was due to the carelessness of the bus driver.
However, investigating officers have established that the driver of the bus belonging to the Kakatiya Techno School, Toopran, was not on phone when he was driving over the unmanned level crossing in Masaipet of Veldurthi mandal in Medak district. Among those who lost their lives were six girls and eight boys, all below 12 years of age apart from the driver, who too was killed.
When contacted, Superintendent of GRP-Secunderabad S. Chandrasekhar Reddy said they had examined the driver’s mobile call data records and found that no call was on at the time of the accident. “He can be blamed for carelessness and gross negligence, but unfortunately, he paid with his life. We are close to finalising the case and will close it as he is no more. We found that all the records pertaining to the two-year-old bus were in order, including the Fitness Certificate,” Mr. Reddy added.
