The bus accident that occurred in Kurnool district has shaken not only Telugus across the world but also many Indians beyond language borders.
But who should be blamed for this tragic incident?
Many point fingers at the man who was reportedly riding the bike under the influence of alcohol. However, he lost his life instantly after hitting the divider and causing a self-accident.
The pillion rider, while trying to move his friend’s body and clear the bike from the middle of the road, was struck by a speeding bus.
The bus dragged the bike for nearly 300 feet until friction caused the fuel tank to burst and ignite a fire.
How can the drunk rider alone be held responsible? The bus driver, who was reportedly driving at an uncontrollable speed, is equally at fault.
Later, it was revealed that the driver had obtained his license using fake educational certificates, claiming to have passed 10th standard when he had studied only up to 5th.
The RTO officials, vehicle inspectors, and related authorities from Telangana must also be held accountable.
Ultimately, should the owners of Vemuri Kaveri Travels not bear responsibility? Shockingly, no media house has questioned their role in this tragedy.
When the Vizag gas leak claimed several lives during YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s government, the victims’ families received Rs 1 crore compensation each from LG Polymers, thanks to Jagan’s prompt intervention.
Shouldn’t Vemuri Kaveri Travels demonstrate similar responsibility, given that the accident occurred due to the negligence of their own driver, whom they hired without conducting proper background checks?
The bus reportedly had permission only for seating service, but it was illegally converted into a sleeper bus. This is a serious violation of transport rules.
Authorities also found that the same bus had 16 pending challans. According to the rules, if a vehicle has more than 10 pending challans, the owner must face a charge sheet and the vehicle should be seized. The owner can get it back only after appearing in court.
Even Telangana top cop Sajjanar stated that those who drink and drive are equivalent to terrorists.
While that holds some truth, the system that permits liquor sales at such hours and fails to regulate drunk driving must also share the blame. Why isn’t there a probe into how and where the liquor was sold?
And just when you thought things couldn’t get any more absurd, a TV news anchor decided to drop some “pearls of wisdom”, claiming that elders always advise against travelling at night, and that if the journey had been during the day, the driver would have noticed the bike on the highway and stopped, and everyone would’ve been saved.
Brilliant insight, truly! Perhaps the Prime Minister should immediately issue a nationwide order banning all night-time bus travel; after all, who needs logic when we have such enlightened advice on prime-time TV?
It’s truly a marvel that our society still tolerates such zero-brain, thoughtless commentary from anchors who seem more committed to showcasing ignorance than journalism.
