The accident that claimed the lives of 22 persons after the van in which they were travelling plunged from Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage at Dowleswaram of East Godavari district in the early hours of Saturday could have occurred only if the driver dozed off at the wheels, according to Transport Department officials.
According to a preliminary report prepared by the officials in Rajahmundry, the Toofan van can ferry only 12 persons, including the driver, but it is crammed with 23 persons, who were returning from a pilgrimage to Tirupati, Vijayawada, and other places. A receipt found in the damaged van revealed that it reached Kalaparru toll gate near Eluru at around 11.30 p.m.
“The driver might have failed to notice a curve ahead of the barrage and apparently drove straight at high speed and hit the railing on the right side of the barrage before falling into the river,” said Rajahmundry Motor Vehicle Inspector P.K. Paramdhama Reddy.
Owing to the speed at which the vehicle plunged into the river, those travelling in it bore the brunt. “We prepared a preliminary report explaining in detail the causes that led to the accident and sent it to the head office in Hyderabad,” he said.
The vehicle has been shifted to Dowleswaram Police Station for further inspection.
He suggested to devotees going on pilgrimage not to exert pressure on drivers as it would lead to accidents. Most pilgrims force drivers to keep going for long hours without adequate rest.
In Saturday’s incident, the driver might have dozed off due to lack of proper sleep and, in a few minutes, he apparently lost control of the vehicle.
Another official said that streetlights that were put up on the barrage had become defunct, resulting in poor visibility to motorists. In the wake of this incident, municipal officials should wake up and repair the streetlights, he added.
The driver might have failed to notice the curve ahead of the barrage and apparently drove straight and hit the railing on the right side of the barrage before falling into the river.
P.K. Paramdhama Reddy
Rajahmundry Motor Vehicle Inspector
