It was a day which will remain etched in the mind of Prasad, the man who was behind the wheels when the Metropolitan Transport Corporation Limited (MTC) bus (17 M) fell from the ramp on the Gemini flyover. Nearly a fortnight after the accident, he says he in fact saved the lives of passengers and that he was not on the phone when the accident occured.
Speaking to The Hindu on the phone, Prasad sounded confident when he said “I was not speaking on the phone when the accident took place,” he said. His version is that, when he was taking a turn on the ramp, the seat moved and he lost his balance. “The nut and bolt became loose. But I kept a hold on the steering wheel and made sure my legs were on the brake.”
Once the bus hit the railing, he ensured that the speed was under control. “The vehicle was descending slowly and it was towards the end that it fell on its right side. It did not topple upside down,” Prasad said. He said his legs were caught in the gear wire and hot oil fell on his leg.
“An auto driver was helping the passengers to get out. I took my cell phone and managed to jump out. I looked for the conductor and found that he was already out,” he said.
According to Prasad, he and the conductor decided to approach the nearest police station and submit a report. “By then, people had gathered and were shouting. The fire engine also reached immediately,” he said.
Prasad says the bus was damaged only after the wrecker vehicles were used to pull the bus. “They are small and old. It is not possible to lift a huge bus. I was watching the operation on television at the police station. It was during this time that the bus was damaged,” said Prasad.
But how are his colleagues and family reacting after he was involved in such an accident?
“My colleagues said that I saved a lot of lives by driving slowly on the slope and ensuring the vehicle did not topple. Similar is the reaction from the family,” he said.
Prasad has an experience of 10 years in driving MTC buses. “The MTC administration has given us their findings on the accident. They have claimed that Prasad drove in a rash and negligent manner. The bus cannot be driven fast on Gemini flyover due to the traffic,” said K. Natarajan, general secretary of MTC Employees Progressive Union
It is my/our experience that MTC Bus Drivers never obey traffic rules. more so of RED Signals. It is high time that these drivers are also booked by Traffic Police and fines collected from them to minimise accidents by rash driving
In an earlier story there was an indication that the nuts and bolts seemed to be new
when the bus was inspected in the MTC garage after it was towed away. Clearly the
driver's version must be correct and some "Chief" is trying to save his neck by
blaming the driver and tampering with the evidence. If an accident happened
because maintenance was improper deeper investigations maybe necessary to
improve the processes eventually helping save more lives. Instead everyone goes
about doing a coverup operation or playing blame games achieving nothing in the
end.
Mr Venkat's suggestion is fantastic. The authorities should note this.
We are missing the main reason of this avoidable accident. As is evident the bus has toppled over to its right,( obviously centrifugal force). This can occur either due to overspeeding for the radius of turn or technical fault eg. tyre/ wheel malfunction. The second cause is not reported and even the statement that the driver seat shifting proves the first cause.
Trere is no harm in admitting the fault, instead of justifying the wrong. If you admit a fault there is a chance to improve in future, by denying you block this chance.
I have seem many Bus drivers using cell phone while driving. I have
also seen many bus driver seats are kept raised to a particular
height by keeping mortar (chengal) stones. Both are my experiences
He may be right,but it is a fact that these drivers drive really rash most of the time,because they have some time constraints.So we are back to the managers who do planning.Thay are at fault.Again the traffic regulators & the public themselves who feel thrilled to break traffic rules,even if they dont need to rush(most of the time).
Considering the condition of MTC buses I feel the driver is correct.
It is no rocket science to establish the veracity of the driver's
claim. It is very likely that the driver seat got out of the moorings
and this can verified from the damaged bus. Also it is possible to
know if the cell was being used at the time of the accident by
verifying the call records of driver cell phone.
I endorse Antony Jerome's view. When they(TN state bus drivers) drive they do not respect other vehicles like two wheelers, and cars coming in opposite direction and keep overtaking unmindful of the opposite direction small vehicles approachig. Where would they go? It is the duty of the driver to overtake only when opposite lane is clear of vehicle. Again they keep their vehicles body half over the opposite lane thereby the opposite lane drivers are scared. Only when vehicles like buses, lorries, or heavy vehicles come in opposite dircetion they fall back on their lane. This attitude causes serious accidents. Besides none of these offending drivers are punished. The cost of damage caused must be recovered from the drivers if the TN bus drivers attitude are to be contained.
Why there is no witnessing from anyone who travelled in the bus when the
incident happened. Only they can give the real picture. Both MTC
officials and drivers can not be believed.
Very nice of The Hindu to bring us the other side of the story. How
about doing an investigation and confirming if there were calls made
from his number.
Venkat
Indian Buses not having doors and deliberately allowed to overload.
Moreover, adding fuel to fire, traffic police book cases of foot board
travel. Why can't the Government come out with a solution to this
problem of over crowding. Bus being overcrowded, poorly maintained,
under paid staffs, it is the Government to be blamed and not the
employee or the driver. Dear Public, go catch the person holding the
arch not the arrow ....
Reading the news and the statement of the Driver I am very sorry to tell that all over Tamil Nadu the state transport employes treat the publice as their servants only they have the feeling that they are the owners of these buses and the roads.there is not a single bus driver stops the bus excatly in the bus stop if you notice they will stop half in the road and we can see the aotu,cars at the will between the bus and the footpath so he giving a news has saint cannot be belived and no action will be take againist him for the union will support him in this matter.If only the the suprem court issue a order stating that all the unions are banned in whole india really to say india will move to first and the best country in the world. but will happen in the flims only in real life no way ofr the political parties will not support this so we can dream thing like this only.
How can anyone say any vehicle can be driven 'rashly' or 'negligent'
manner?? It would be a miracle for anyone to resort to 'rash' or 'fast'
driving in India in any city or town!! Most of the cities and even new
layouts in India are so shoddily planned with such
short-shortsightedness that it is a shame to call ourselves
'superpower'!!! We cannot plan on WIDE and good roads, despite nations
like China and tiny ones like the Gulf countries who are better off
with wide wide wide and good roads.
The driver's statement may be true is a debatable but he did bring about an
important point regarding the pathetic condition of MTC buses and recovery
vehicles.We need to understand is about the design of roads and the
ramps.The ramps built on these roads including the Kathipara is too narrow
and steep,the angle of ramps to road are so acute that vehicles are bound to
be toppled.We in India do not spend time or material in doing some research
before laying roads.In other countries for example in Singapore the speed
restriction in the clearly marked and the appropriate speed for different
vehicles without toppling is mentioned,shoulders are etched to warn sleeping
drivers.Further,a design change is necessary in these buses where the engine
should be moved back and transmission needs to be automatic so drivers do
not sit near burners all day rather have a pleasent and safe drive.I believe
none of use wold want to sit near a burner when temp is 100f outside.After
all they are human too.
Please Email the Editor