The terrifying accident involving a Bal Rath bus that plunged into a roadside trench at Balli on Thursday morning with 34 students on board has raised pertinent questions on the fitness of Bal Rath buses and their drivers, the safety of students, the responsibilities of school management, the role of the Education Department and the State government.
Goa has been witnessing a flurry of horrific accidents in recent times, but this one was one of the scary ones and hit headlines because of the involvement of students. Thankfully, all of them escaped with minor injuries. The sad irony is that the accident has triggered finger-pointing, blame games and despairing attempts to find a scapegoat.
The driver claimed that the steering got locked and hence the vehicle went off the road, a theory that is being probed, but appears to be an ordinary defence when brakes were operational and could have been used to stall the vehicle. Possibilities are that the driver dozed off or was distracted while the vehicle was in motion. Nonetheless, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was quick to order an inquiry, while the police booked the driver for rash and negligent driving.
The second aspect is about the fitness of these buses with several sections slamming the poor condition and the Opposition calling for an audit of all school buses across the State. Sawant's defence has been that the government provides funds to school management towards the maintenance of Bal Rath buses.
The question is, are school managements to check for the fitness of buses? Why are protocols, checks and balances not put in place? Who decides if the buses are fit for the road or not? What happens when an accident happens due to a human error?
The third aspect is about the medical services in villages. When 34 students were jolted by the impact of the bus going down the trench, they were shifted to the Primary Health Centre at Balli. Around four students who had injuries had to be referred to the District Hospital in Margao because of the lack of emergency facilities at the PHC adding to their pain and agony. While the State boasts of premier medical facilities at GMC and district hospitals, the PHCs cut out a sorry figure, and such accidents expose the other side of our healthcare.
The fourth and most crucial aspect is road engineering. A closer look at the accident spot shows that there is not enough road-shoulder and the trench is too close to the road leaving no room to retrieve if a vehicle goes off road. In spaces like these where there is no road shoulder or road setback available there should have been barricading to offer some protection. Faulty road engineering and rash and negligent driving are two key factors responsible for accidents in the State, and together they make a deathly combo.
The finger-pointing in the Balli accident only highlights the desperation in passing the blame. From the driver, school management and the government, everyone holds responsibility. While the government offers funds for the maintenance of vehicles and pays salaries of the Bal Rath drivers, it can’t abdicate a larger responsibility towards the safety of students. The school management cannot absolve themselves either. There have to be checks and balances at every stage to ensure better safety of students travelling by Bal Rath.
