Tarun Karthick
Campbell Bay, 18 November 2024
The Rest Camp STS Bus tragedy that occurred on November 15, 2024, in North and Middle Andaman, has claimed four innocent lives, sparking outrage across the islands. What started as a horrific accident claiming two lives on the spot has now seen its death toll rise to four, with the latest victim—a 59-year-old woman—succumbing to her injuries during treatment. Among the deceased are a 14-year-old child, a vegetable vendor, and a police home guard, leaving families shattered and an entire community grieving.
Despite repeated warnings from Nicobar Times over the past year, the Directorate of Transport failed to address the alarming practice of operating old vehicles with canceled registration certificates. A detailed video story published on September 7, 2023, explicitly exposed the State Transport Services (STS) for deploying such unfit vehicles to ferry passengers. Yet, these warnings went unheeded.
The bus involved in the fatal accident had no fitness certification and was operating illegally with a canceled registration certificate—an act of blatant negligence by the Directorate of Transport. This preventable disaster has laid bare the systemic failure and utter disregard for public safety by those in charge.
In the immediate aftermath of the accident, the Deputy Director of Transport hastily ordered what can only be described as a *sham inquiry*. Two junior engineers were tasked with investigating the incident and submitting a factual report by today, November 18, 2024. This so-called inquiry raises serious concerns about impartiality—how can junior employees be expected to hold their seniors accountable for such grave lapses?
The people of these islands demand more than superficial inquiries. They demand answers:
– Why was an unfit bus with a canceled registration allowed to operate?
– Who authorised its deployment despite explicit warnings and media reports?
The chain of accountability does not stop with the junior employees. It extends to the highest echelons of the A & N Administration, including the Director of Transport, Secretary of Transport, and even the Chief Secretary, who all turned a blind eye to the repeated red flags raised by Nicobar Times.
Islanders are calling for a high-level, independent investigation by officers outside the A & N Administration to ensure transparency and accountability. Those found guilty—whether for directly authorising the use of such vehicles or for showing complacency in addressing safety violations—must be prosecuted under the harshest provisions of the law.
The loss of four precious lives cannot and must not be swept under the rug. Justice must be delivered to the grieving families, and the officials responsible for this tragedy must face the consequences of their actions. Anything less would be an insult to the memory of the victims and a betrayal of the trust that Islanders place in their administration.
The community stands united in its demand for justice. Will the administration finally act, or will this tragedy, too, be buried under bureaucratic complacency?