Slight speeding and a bit of carelessness on the part of the driver may have led to the tragic accident that claimed three lives at Maradu on Monday evening.
This was the preliminary observation of the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) officials who inspected the school vehicle involved in the accident.
K.M. Shaji, Ernakulam Regional Transport Officer (Enforcement), however, added that the accident had taken place along a narrow road wide enough only for one-way movement of vehicles, allowing for speed in the range of 20-30 kilometre per hour.
The vehicle had fitness certificate valid till August and the mechanical side was also sound. Only the tyres were found to be slightly worn. “The only fault was that the vehicle did not have the sticker indicating that it was in the service of an educational institution. If the sticker was there, the condition of tyres would have been taken note of and asked to be rectified. However, the accident had nothing to do with the condition of the vehicle,” Mr. Shaji said.
Locals shocked
For Ravi Thekkedath, the trauma of seeing three people, including two children, dying right in front of his eyes is not going to get over any time soon. One of the first persons to rush to the accident spot, what he first saw was the face of three children emerging out of the partially submerged van’s window. Without wasting time, the onlookers took a plunge into the water and smashed the glass window to take five children out. The rescued children were shifted to a house in the vicinity and were administered first aid.
Ravi, along with his wife Shakunthala, who lives nearby, rushed to the spot on hearing a scream. “Only the rear portion of the vehicle could be seen out of the water, chocked with hyacinth and slurry for several years now. Driver Anil Kumar alias Babu was the first to emerge out of water, who then opened the door at the middle portion of the vehicle,” Mr. Ravi said.
Three children remained trapped inside the vehicle. “They could be rescued only after the vehicle was pulled out of the pond and it took around 20 minutes,” he added.
Probe on
A cursory examination of the CCTV visuals collected by the police from a nearby house pointed to rash and negligent driving.
It also showed that the vehicle skidded off the road and submerged within a span of just three minutes.
No boundary wall
Meanwhile, local residents have demanded construction of a boundary wall to the pond bordering the road. “This is a dangerous spot, especially when it rains. Last year too, a mini lorry carrying concrete blocks fell into the pond. Then the driver had jumped out and escaped. The authorities should construct a protection wall on a war-footing,” said P. J. Thampi, a local resident.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has asked District Collector K. Mohammed Y. Safirulla to probe the accident and submit a report.