the goan I network
MARGAO
Around 32 passengers of a Margao-Ponda bound mini-bus, including several school students, had a miraculous escape after the bus landed in the field at Ambora-Camurlim near the Anuska restaurant on Monday noon.
While the exact cause behind the accident is being ascertained, locals claimed the ill-fated bus fell on its side in the field when the bus driver was apparently trying to negotiate the craters on the damaged road.
Most of the passengers escaped with minor injuries. Maina-Curtorim police informed that around five passengers who were later taken to the Ponda ID hospital were discharged after administering first aid.
As the ill-fated bus landed in the field on its side, the passengers were rescued from the rear emergency door and also through the windows by the locals.
The bus was heading to Ponda and was carrying school students, who were heading home after school.
Owner of Anushka Restaurant Tony D’Costa told the media that the accident occurred around 2 pm when the bus tried to negotiate a huge crater on the road when it reached Ambora. “I was seating in my restaurant when I saw the bus landing in the field. Immediately, our staff and customers all rushed to the rescue of the passengers, most of whom were school students. I think the accident has taken place after the bus driver tried to avoid a crater, and in the bargain lost control before the bus landed in the field,” Tony said.
Camurlim panch Ashwini Kumar Naik echoed similar sentiments, saying the unattended crater is responsible for the accident. “Fortunately, none of the passengers sustained any major injuries. But, the authorities should note that the crater is the prime reason behind the accident,” Naik said.
Maina-Curtorim PI Pravinkumar Vast informed that not a single passenger was brought to the Hospicio hospital, adding that the five passengers, who were taken to the Ponda ID hospital, were immediately discharged after first aid.
Accident brings to fore danger posed
to motorists on Raia-Borim road
MARGAO: The Camurlim accident on Monday noon involving the ill-fated Margao-Ponda passenger bus has only brought to the fore the danger posed to the motorists and vehicles on the accident-prone road between Raia and Borim.
Even as Camurlim panch Ashwinikumar Naik demanded a vigilance probe into the road construction, locals pointed out that the road has settled at some places and is in a damaged condition at other stretches because of the potholes.
Naik wondered why the road, which was completed after a long delay, is not free from accidents, has demanded a vigilance inquiry into the quality of construction work. “Let the vigilance probe call for interrogation of the contractor and all the engineers associated with the construction of the road from Raia to Borim, including the PWD minister, who was at the helm of PWD then,” he demanded.
Local motorists claimed that the depressions at some stretches along the road is enough for a speeding vehicle to turn turtle and demanded that the PWD survey the road again and carry out the repairs at the damaged portion.
The locals also demanded that the government should immediately illuminate the four-lane road before any major accidents take place on the stretch.
