Vadakkencherry bus accident: NATPAC report points to lapses by KSRTC driver too

Thiruvananthapuram: A study report prepared by the National Transportation Planning and Research Centre over the Vadakkencherry bus mishap which claimed the lives of 9 passengers, pointed out lapses on the part of the KSRTC driver along with the driver of the tourist bus. The report pointed out that the KSRTC bus stopped suddenly without giving any signal to the tourist bus behind. The report submitted by NATPAC has iscarded the findings of the Motor Vehicles Department which gave a clean chit to the KSRTC driver earlier.

The tourist bus driver had attempted to overtake the KSRTC bus without maintaining a safe distance, noted the report. It also accused the tourist bus driver of rash driving.

The NATPAC report recommended providing training for all KSRTC drivers on traffic rules.

NATPAC also reported that a car that passed by during the accident was moving slowly through the speed track. The car driver also had no idea about the speed that must be maintained when driving through each track. The absence of street lamps also led to the accident, said the report.