Tarun Karthick
Campbell Bay, 02 December 2024
The tragic STS bus accident near Rest Camp in Mayabunder Tehsil on 15th November, which claimed the lives of four Islanders, has left the public grappling with unanswered questions. The bus, operated by the State Transport Services (STS), was found to have expired fitness and registration certificates, raising serious concerns about negligence and accountability within the Transport Department.
According to investigation by media, the bus was illegally operating on the roads despite its invalid registration, a direct violation of transport laws. Furthermore, its mechanical condition was reportedly poor, with residents of North and Middle Andaman raising alarms about recurring issues.
In the aftermath of the accident, the silence from the Transport Department has been deafening. There has been no official communication regarding action taken against STS officers or senior Transport Department officials who permitted the bus’s operation despite its non-compliance with safety standards. Questions about accountability remain unanswered, fuelling public frustration.
Call for Transparency:
The public is demanding transparency and swift accountability from the authorities. Concerns are mounting over whether senior officials, whose complacency allowed unsafe vehicles to operate, will be held responsible. The Transport Department has neither issued a press release nor shared the findings of its internal investigation.
Nicobar Times has previously highlighted the rampant use of government vehicles with cancelled registration certificates, including a detailed video report on such buses used for ferrying passengers in September 2023. However, these warnings went unheeded, allowing the illegal practices to continue unchecked.
A Need for Accountability:
The loss of four lives cannot be brushed aside. Islanders are urging the administration to address this systemic failure, identify the culprits, and take corrective action to prevent future tragedies. The lack of response from higher authorities also suggests that this negligence may be rooted in deeper systemic issues within the administration.
The families of the victims and the broader community of Andaman and Nicobar Islands deserve answers and assurance that such incidents will not recur. The public’s demand is clear: accountability must be established, and justice must be served.
The onus is now on the Transport Department to break its silence, address these concerns, and restore public confidence by ensuring transparency in its operations.