Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Sept 10: In the wake of the fatal road accident in Angul district resulting in death of 19 people, the state government has convened a meeting of bus and truck owners Monday to discuss safe and hassle free driving and plying of vehicles.
“We have called a meeting with bus and truck owners Monday. The proposed meeting will focus on measures to prevent use of mobile phones while driving, overloading, over-seating, fitness of vehicles and drunken driving,” transport commissioner Chandrasekhar Kumar said Saturday.
The Regional Transport Officer (RTO) has submitted a preliminary report on the Angul incident mentioning that the mishap took place due to the carelessness of the driver who was talking on his mobile phone while driving the bus, Kumar added.
Maintaining that the state government has been taking all possible measures to check road mishaps, Kumar said drivers, staffers and owners of passenger buses and trucks would be taken into task if they are found violating guidelines relating to safe driving. “Transport authorities are taking tough action against rash and reckless driving which will become more stringent in the near future,” he added.
“The Supreme Court has directed the state government to bring down the number of accidents in the state by 20 per cent by 2020,” he stated.
The transport department has cancelled 25,000 driving licences in the state in the last 8-10 months. “We have written to the Centre with a proposal for a refresher training during the renewal of driving licence,” he added.
The tragedy in Angul had taken place Friday morning when a bus carrying about 70 passengers fell off a bridge. The mishap took place near Deulijhari when the bus from Boudh to Athamallik fell off a bridge at Puruna Manitri.
Apart from 19 deaths, 30 others sustained serious injuries in the accident. The injured were admitted to a hospital at Athamallik where the condition of many was stated to be critical, said Angul collector Anil Kumar Samal.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had ordered a probe after taking stock of the situation at state Secretariat with concerned officials. He also announced `2 lakh ex-gratia to the families of the deceased and asked officials to distribute it within two days.
