Rahul Singh & Abhishek
Campbell Bay, Aug. 28: Two passengers were reportedly injured after an STS bus lost control and met with an accident on Thursday on the Campbell Bay–Joginder Nagar route in Great Nicobar.
According to information received by Andaman Sheekha Daily, the bus was operating on the Campbell Bay–Joginder Nagar special route, which is generally used by school students travelling to and from school. Sources said the vehicle reportedly lost control while descending a slope on the route, where several accidents have reportedly occurred in the past.
While sources initially suggested that a possible brake failure may have caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle, the exact cause of the accident has not yet been officially confirmed. Preliminary reports are still awaited, and separate inquiries are reportedly being conducted by the Police and the State Transport Service to determine whether the accident was caused by a mechanical fault or any other reason.
Sources said that after the vehicle went out of control, the alert driver warned the two passengers inside the bus and asked them to hold on to anything they could, as the vehicle was no longer under control. This act alerted passengers and averted major injuries it is reorted.
The bus subsequently struck a roadside wall, crossed towards the other side of the road and broke through a wall. It finally came to a halt near the edge of the road after getting caught in bushes.
The front portion of the bus was reportedly damaged in the accident. However, the passengers inside the vehicle were said to be safe with minor injuries. The driver was also reported to be safe.
Meanwhile, while talking to Andaman Sheekha Daily, Mr. Prahlad Singh, Pradhan of the concerned Panchayat, said that residents had already been demanding two additional buses for the Joginder Nagar and Laxmi Nagar Panchayat stretch, as the existing transport facilities were insufficient to meet the requirements of the local population.
He said that, according to his understanding, brake failure could have been a possible reason behind the accident. However, he added that the actual cause would become clear only after the ongoing investigations by the Police and STS authorities are completed.
Mr. Prahlad Singh further said that the accident could create additional difficulties for residents dependent on the bus service. According to him, people from Laxmi Nagar Panchayat, particularly those living around 30 to 35 kilometres away, were already facing considerable difficulties while travelling to Campbell Bay market and other areas.
He appealed to the Administration to take the matter seriously, ensure that the damaged bus is repaired and restored to service at the earliest, and also reconsider the long-pending demand for two additional buses on the route to provide better transport facilities to residents.
