Thirty seven people were killed and 15 injured in the worst-ever accident on the Mumbai-Goa highway when a private tourist bus fell off a bridge at 3.30 a.m. on Tuesday.
The bus from Goa was on way to Mumbai. Police said the driver lost control when it was crossing the bridge over the Jagbudi River near Khed in Ratnagiri district. The bus landed upside down on a dry patch of the river. Identification of the bodies was delayed as many of them had become unrecognisable. The injured include several foreign tourists.
“We cannot say whether the driver was drunk,” said Mahendra Pardeshi of Khed police station. The driver, who was injured, has been admitted to a hospital in Khed.
Locals rushed to the spot after they heard a loud noise and immediately informed the authorities, who started the rescue work within an hour. The injured, 10 of whom are in a critical condition, have been taken to hospitals here and in Khed.
The accident has once again fuelled the debate over the need to speed up expansion work of the Mumbai-Goa highway. Bhaskar Jadhav, guardian Minister of Ratnagiri and Minister of State for Urban Development Department, on Tuesday agreed that the expansion project had been delayed. “It is necessary to complete the project to avoid any such incidents,” he said.
PTI reports: Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan announced in the Legislative Assembly a compensation of Rs. 2 lakh each to the kin of the victims and Rs. 50,000 to the injured.
Keywords: Road accident, Ratnagiri district, Jagbudi river
It was really shocking incident that took 37 lives & other were seriously injured. It was also found that the bus driver was drunk (Mentioned in Maharashtra Times on 20th March 2013). Does government have any system that could stop these drunk drivers? What check posts are doing there on NH 17? It is observed that they look for the passengers who are carrying illegal goods during the journey but can't they go to the driver's compartment & check him if he is drunk or not? In my opinion alcohol level test should be compulsory on the major checkpost on NH 17.
I, with four others of our family, booked this as a round trip in Feb
2012. The driver was terrible, going as fast as he could, tires
howling through the corners on this narrow highway which winds through
the hills of the Western Ghats. One of our family got so motion sick
he had to stand in the isle for nearly two hours. The driver ignored
complaints from several of us as well as others on board. At a stop,
with about two hours to go, the bus attendant (jump seat occupant) got
off and a young woman got on, sat there for the rest of the trip
chatting with the driver while he got even worse showing off his
"driving skills." All of us were stiff and sore from trying to hang on
while banging around in the bus. We cancelled our return tickets and
took a flight back. After some time in India, I have concluded that,
generally, people in India care more for the lives of cattle and dogs
than they do for people.
Everyone in India who is surviving daily is living on day to day basis
with God's grace and his mercy alone. Our country has such pathetic
infrastructure which is collapsing at many places with dangerous roads
and bridges and our Pathetic Govt which includes the people who elect
such Govt instead of working to improve the infrastructure of the
roads,public transport and bridges is spending money on unwanted
projects like Space mission to moon and unwanted defence purchases.God
alone should save India and Indians!
Yes, it appears the bridge has settled due to erosion of the brick supports and that it is both very uneven and cambered toward the edges - obviously very dangerous.
This is very tragic. For the near and dear the loss is irreparable and the sorrow beyond any comprehension. Our hearts go to them.
In developed countries, there have been enormous amounts spent to provide and maintain infrastructures (public work projects). These have been carried on for long years to fruition and provide the necessary means for the living of the populace. Even here, the present days do not see much of new projects like major roads, buildings, etc. However, all the previous activities in these countries came about only through one means, collection of Income Taxes from majority of the population. Very few were exempt from contributing to the tax base. These taxes were effectively chanellised for providing public works. The classic example of this is the FDRs public works programme in the USA in 1930s. The result of this type of program is there for the entire world to see and admire. However, we Indians have to accept that only taxes will create infrastructures.
Over speeding should be prohibited. Speed control devices should be made
mandatory for all transport vehicles.
These incidents happen all over third world countries. India is massive now. More than likely they've been approached by the Empire Builders, with open armed invites to 'rebuild the country's future'. They're smart enough to decline the debt, and handcuffed proposition. The other side of the coin is - - they just can't move forward without the assistance. Goa is one of the top tourist spots in the world. Look at that bridge! Unreal.
I agree with the previous comments. Safety? Not in India. I have worked
in India for several years and travelling the road from Bhubaneswar to
Jharsuguda I have never, not once, failed to see a fatal truck crash.
Many, if not most trucks and buses have faulty lights and run at night
anyway. It's a wonder that not more than the 120,000 Indians are killed
on the highway each year. No driving traing, poor infrastructure, no
traffic enforcement outside of towns, faulty cars and trucks on the road
all adds up to disaster each day for 300+ Indians.
The accident is very unfortunate. I recollect that a major accident
had took place at the same spot wherein above 20 passengers had died.
I am from Chiplun and I used to drive several times to Chiplun by
road. However, nowadays, I travel by train and avoid driving to
Chiplun. The reason bad roads and above all the alarming increase in
traffic. Earlier, the traffic was less. Above all people have lost
driving sense and even sympathy. It is really very difficult at times
to drive at night as many vehicles especially the Luxury buses have 8
headlights flashing. What can a small car do with only 2 headlights
????
I recollect that there was a speed breaker before and after the bridge
on the Jagbudi river, which forced the driver to slow down on the
bridge which is narrow. Nowadays, the speed breaker is not to be seen
and so the vehicles dont slow down which result in such accidents.
I express my deepest condolences and pray to Allah to give solace to
the aggrieved families.
Same situation across all modes of transport Safety does not exist
forget about being compromised. Infrastructure also remains primitive further adding to the agony .Sad situation and hopeless and helpless one too
so you mean, one must not sleep at night during journey and keep watching the speed of the bus, come on mate, this happened early hours and everyone must be at tight sleep, and its driver responsibility to take the passengers safely, OK i agree that if one old a speedometer in his hand all the times without sleep and keep watching the speed may prevent the accident which is a funny one.
I agree with you John. Look at the bridge it does not have proper
railing.
Most unfortunate.My heart goes out to the families of the deceased.
RIP...What else can I say for these "unfortunate" people! The condition
of the bridge is horrible! Looks like built in the British era with
bricks and steel railing. It also seems its not fit for two way traffic.
Above all, This is India. There is nothing called "safety". Forget it
and move on people.
That is why if one feels that the driver is overspeeding, he/she should not hesitate to walk up to the cabin and tell him to slow down.
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