Death Toll Rises to Three in Mayabunder STS Bus Tragedy: Negligence Claims Innocent Lives  

Tarun Karthick

Campbell Bay, 17 November 2024

Tragedy deepened following the catastrophic Mayabunder STS bus accident, as a 14-year-old passenger succumbed to injuries at G.B. Pant Hospital on 16 November 2024. This devastating incident, which initially claimed two lives on 15 November, has now taken three, leaving a trail of heartbreak and outrage.  

Survivors of the accident remain in critical condition, battling for their lives at the hospital. Meanwhile, the silence from the Lt. Governor and Administration’s top management, including the Chief Secretary, Secretary (Transport), and Director of Transport, is deafening. No condolences have been extended publicly to the grieving families, and no statement on corrective actions or accountability has been issued, even as damning facts about the accident emerge.  

A Preventable Tragedy: 

The STS bus involved in the accident had neither a valid registration certificate nor a fitness clearance. Survivors revealed that a brake failure caused the crash—a harrowing consequence of the Administration’s negligence. Despite its poor condition, the bus, which should have been scrapped, was used to transport passengers, endangering lives.  

This illegal operation is not merely a violation of law, but a blatant disregard for public safety. The Department of Transport’s senior officials, including the Secretary and Director, are yet to be held accountable for allowing an unfit bus on the road. It raises a critical question: why was an unsafe vehicle, with no legal clearance, operating under the Administration’s nose?  

Accountability Eclipsed by Apathy:

The Administration’s failure extends beyond operational negligence. The absence of empathy for the victims and their families underscores a disturbing disconnect from the very people they are meant to serve. Despite the gravity of the situation, no public acknowledgment, condolence, or assurance of justice has been offered.  

This apathy suggests a culture of complacency that enables such tragedies. It is inconceivable that junior employees would operate an unregistered vehicle without explicit or implicit directions from senior management. This systemic failure demands immediate and stringent action against all those responsible.  

Call for Action:

The tragedy at Mayabunder is a stark reminder of the Administration’s responsibility to prioritise public safety. The Secretary and Director of Transport must be held accountable for this gross negligence. Their oversight—or willful neglect—has claimed innocent lives, including that of a 14-year-old child.  

Moreover, a thorough investigation must identify and penalise every individual in the chain of complacency that allowed this unfit vehicle to operate. The Administration owes it to the victims, their families, and the people of A & N Islands to ensure that such tragedies are not repeated.  

This tragedy should not fade into bureaucratic oblivion. Lives were lost, families shattered, and trust in the system eroded—all because of negligence at the highest levels. The people of these islands deserve accountability, justice, and assurance that safety will never again be compromised in such a reckless manner.