Cuttack: Transport Minister Nrusingha Charan Sahu Wednesday said none should be held responsible for Tuesday’s road mishap on the bridge over Mahanadi here, but the opposition BJP was not impressed, squarely blaming the government for the accident that claimed a dozen lives and left many injured.
The minister visited the survivors of the accident undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital (SCBMCH) here in the morning and dubbed the mishap as a ‘misfortune’.
“No one should be held responsible for the catastrophe. The state government has done its best to facilitate all possible assistance to the victims and handle the post-mishap situation as well,” Sahu said adding that soon, installation of speed controllers would be mandated for all government and private buses in the state.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Pratap Sarangi, however, condemned the Transport minister’s statement saying that the state government should be held responsible for the mishap.
“Majority of buses plying in the state don’t follow the safety guidelines and operate risking the passengers’ lives. Besides, the civic bodies have miserably failed to curb the cattle menace which time and again has led to loss of life. And under such circumstances the state government should take the blame,” the saffron party leader said.
Sarangi went on to say that family members of a few injured approached him and alleged that the victims were not getting proper healthcare at SCB. “The state government should take note of the allegations and do whatever it can to address the lacuna,” the BJP leader said.
Later in the day, Governor Ganeshi Lal visited the victims and also discussed with the SCB doctors about ensuring best possible healthcare to the mishap victims. “The worst has already happened and I extend my condolences for the bereaved. Our focus now remains on the injured ones. I’ll urge the Chief Minister to facilitate the optimum for treatment of the injured,” the Governor said.
MP Anubhav Mohanty, who visited the injured in the afternoon, however, preferred maintaining silence on the issue. “May the almighty bestow patience to the victims and their family,” Mohanty said.