Action to be taken against school vans carrying more than stipulated number of students
CM personally visits injured at hospitals
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 21 2022: Chief Minister N Biren Singh has extended his deepest condolence over the demise of 10 persons, including 8 students in the unfortunate road accident that occurred at Longsai Part-III area today morning.

Briefing media persons at his Secretariat in the evening, N Biren said the incident was very unfortunate and the State is taking up all efforts to provide assistance to the injured and families of the deceased persons.

He informed that the State Government after discussion amongst Cabinet Ministers has taken a decision to provide ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to each family of the deceased persons.

A financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh and Rs 50,000 will also be provided to the seriously injured and those with minor injury respectively, he said.

CM personally visits injured at hospitals

The Chief Minister continued that the State Government has also taken the decision to bear all expenses of treatment of the injured persons admitted at different hospitals.

He said the bus which met with the accident was carrying 47 persons, including students and staff of Thambalnu Higher Secondary School, Yairipok Top Chingtha on an annual study tour to Khoupum.

Appreciating the swift response of the villagers near the incident site in rescuing the other victims, he stated that the Government was able to initiate rescue action timely as the villagers had uploaded details about the accident on social media.

He informed that the injured persons were initially evacuated to Bishnupur District Hospital and later brought to hospitals at Imphal including Raj Medicity, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) and Advanced Hospital.

To avoid such accidents from happening in future, N Biren cautioned that the public should take utmost care while driving on roads in hill areas as the visibility is low during the winter season due to foggy weather.

Appealing the schools to avoid conducting study tour or excursion during winter season specially during December and January, he said the Education Department has today issued an order directing heads of all Government, Government aided and private schools in the State not to organise school excursions till January 10, 2023 to avoid any untoward incidents.

The Chief Minister also urged all the drivers of passenger vehicles not to drive beyond the speed limit.

He said that most passenger vehicles are seen driving at high speed.

Many school vans are also carrying students beyond capacity, he said and informed that verification will be initiated to check such school vans and action will be taken up against those drivers found carrying students beyond capacity.

Driving Licence of the drivers found guilty may be cancelled and action will also be taken up against the schools concerned, he added.

Stressing the need to provide proper awareness on rules on driving passenger vehicles to avoid any untoward incident, he informed that the Transport Department will organise a conference of all drivers of the State to make them aware about dos and don'ts of driving.

Concluding the press briefing, the Chief Minister expressed his deepest condolences and shared grief with the bereaved families.

He further appealed to the public to follow traffic rules while driving, to avoid road accidents.

Works Minister Govindas Konthoujam, Education Minister Thounaojam Basanta Kumar, Social Welfare Minister Heikham Dingo and Director General of Police P Doungel and other senior officials were also present during the press briefing.

Earlier, Chief Minister N Biren Singh visited Raj Medicity, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences and Advanced Hospital to see the conditions of the injured persons.

He also visited the mortuary of Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) where bodies of those who died in the accident are being kept and consoled the families of the deceased.

During the visit, the Chief Minister was accompanied by Works Minister Govindas Konthoujam, Health Minister Dr Sapam Ranjan, Education Minister Thounaojam Basanta Kumar, Social Welfare Minister Heikham Dingo, MLA of Moirang AC Thongam Shanti and MLA of Wangkhei AC Thangjam Arunkumar.

Meanwhile, Managing Director of Raj Medicity, Haobijam Rajen said 26 injured persons, mostly students, are being treated at the hospital.

"The hospital is providing treatment to 26 persons injured in the accident and of them, six are in serious conditions.

The hospital is doing all it can.

Families of the injured shouldn't feel unduly worried," he said.

Meanwhile, condolences and prayers for the survivors have poured in from many sections.

While expressing condolences, Transport and Drivers' Council (TDC) has extended assistance of Rs 10,000 each for treatment of each injured persons and promised Rs 20,000 as ex-gratia for the deceased.

The council members led by its president H Ranjit visited the injured being treated at Raj Medicity, Advance Hospital and RIMS and provided the assistance.

M Daniel, president BJP Tamenglong district on behalf of the party, and local public of Longsai and Tubung village extended condolences.

He shared the grief and pain of the bereaved families and prayed for quick recovery of those injured in the accident.

Private Schools' Development Council, Thoubal district members including its president B Surchandra Sharma visited Thambalnu Higher Secondary School and shared the sorrow and pain of the school and bereaved families.

The Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS) Manipur members including its president Th Manihar held a condolence meeting and observed a 2-minute silence for the departed souls to rest in peace and prayed for speedy recovery of the injured.

The federation is ready to assist families of the injured students at hospitals in every possible way, it said.

All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO), UKAL, Liangmai Naga Katimai Ruangdi, All Naga Students' Association Manipur (ANSAM), All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM), All Manipur Gorkha Students' Union, Manipur Pradesh Trinamool Congress Committee, Social Economic Development Organisation (SEDO), Kekru Yairi Club Yairipok, Apunba Manipur Matam Ishei Kanglup (AMMIK), Manipuri Students' Federation (MSF), Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM), Kangleipak Students' Association (KSA), Students' Union of Kangleipak (SUK), Apunba Ireipak-ki Maheiroi Singpang Lup (AIMS) and other organisations also extended condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for quick recovery of the injured.

(with inputs from DIPR) .