The bus accident that took 45 innocent lives has sent shockwaves down to spine of every Pakistani.
Students aboard were on a trip to salt mines and while going back to Faisalabad, the brakes of the bus carrying 107 students failed, the bus turned turtles and fell into a ditch. 45 casualties have been reported so far. Pakistan has high ratio of road accidents and casualties there against. Dilapidated road conditions, unawareness of proper driving rules, non-maintenance of vehicles and technical flaws often take lives of passengers with no strict action against the negligent drivers.
In the instant case, brake failure means either the bus was technically unfit or driver lacked experience and skill.
One may not imagine the sorrow and grief of those who lost their loved ones in this accident. Road safety measures are not adapted by transporters and fatigue factor in drivers often results in fatal accidents.
It is hoped that the root cause of the said accident would be thoroughly investigated and the guilty must be taken to task. Loading more than hundred passengers on a bus is quite risky. School management may explain as to why an overloaded bus was taken to a trip in hilly and dangerous area.
IFTIKHAR SHAHEEN MIRZA
Islamabad
