Victim's family wants safety measures, screening of drivers
Source: Chronicle News Service

Thoubal, December 30 2022: Road mishaps are unpredictable and accident happens despite taking precautionary measures.

However, taking up preventive measures and screening of drivers of passenger vehicles while issuing driving license and enforcing regular checking of vehicles will help in minimising damages caused by accidents.

These are the words of the family members of Sanasam Kishan, son of S Khomei of Thoubal Sabaltongba, a teacher of Thambalnu Higher Second ary School, Yairipok, who was among the nine people killed in the unfortunate incident that took place near Longsai village along the Old Cachar road on December 21.A team of Educational Guide Centre (EGC), Thoubal Moijing led by its president MM Abdur Razzaq and general secretary Md Shahabuddin alias Alein Maibam visited the bereaved family and extended financial assistance.

Kishan used to stay at his mother's maternal home at Thoubal Nongangkhong with his uncle Akoijam Michael.

Kishan's father S Khomei said that the accident site is stated to be an accident-prone area and local people have been appealing to the government to install safety features to prevent road accidents or minimise damages.

However, the government seems to be ignoring the matter till date, he said while urging the government to take up necessary measures in the area before the ex-gratia amount is delivered to the victim families.

S Khomei said that they have not received any condolence from the drivers till date and further urged the government to organise awareness programme for commercial vehicle drivers to prevent road accidents due to reckless driving.

Kishan's uncle Ak Michael also aired the same sentiment and expressed disappointment over the government's inaction in taking up safety measures in the accident prone area.

The government can install guard rail, widen the road and install blind spot signage arid mirrors to make aware the drivers of the danger ahead and see any incom -ing vehicle from the opposite direction.

While acknowledging that drivers are contributing significantly to the society, he also expressed that not many would argue that some drivers lack discipline.

The driver of the bus involved in the accident seems to lack discipline of a responsible driver.

Drivers should have high discipline, especially when they are carrying passengers as their safety lie in the driver's hands, the distraught uncle said.

Further pointing out that as per report of the witnesses, the driver seems to lack proper knowledge of controlling the vehicle while operating on steep road in the hills j he opined that citing technical problem of the bus after the accident is nothing but an excuse to divert critical assessment.

Even if it is true that the bus had some technical problems, they should have checked and repaired any defects or faults ahead of the journey.

At the same time, transport department should conduct intense screening while issuing driving license for commercial passenger vehicles.

They could also conduct training for such drivers and create awareness among them on the dos and don'ts of driving commercial passenger vehicles.

Drivers' associations should also take up measures to ensure that drivers adhere to traffic regulations and road safety measures, he suggested.

Meanwhile, the EGC team has urged the government to take up measures including installation of safety measures in the particular area, which is said to be accident prone area at the earliest.

They also shared the grief and pain of the bereaved families, and prayed for early recovery of the injured survivors.

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