Nandapur: Accidents and mishaps can occur at any time and place, making it difficult to predict them in advance. While government regulations mandate safety measures to prevent and mitigate such incidents, the Transport Department has been accused of ignoring these norms. Though police and transport officials conduct vehicle inspections on roads and highways, the focus appears to be more on imposing heavy fines on rule violators and intoxicated drivers through CCTV surveillance, rather than ensuring passenger safety in public transport.
Despite strict rules requiring private bus operators to maintain fire extinguishers and first aid kits, the Transport Department has overlooked their implementation. For instance, among the 19 private buses operating through Nandapur block and the 86 private buses running in Koraput district, many lack fire extinguishers.
Although some buses have first aid boxes, they contain no actual medical supplies, as confirmed by passengers. Even in new BS-4 and BS-6 buses, where fire extinguishers were installed during manufacturing, staff members are unaware of how to use them. Similarly, school buses are not being regularly inspected, leading to concerns about passenger safety.
Given the lack of enforcement and negligence, the general public demands that the Koraput district administration, Transport Department, and police take immediate action before a major accident occurs.
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