Goa: Cannot give ‘opinion’ on cause of Balrath minibus accident

Margo: The RTO inspector who inspected the ill-fated minibus Balrath that was involved in an accident on December 7 while carrying 27 students would have declared that “he cannot give any opinion”. It may be recalled that the Balrath was carrying students of Khaddem to Cuncolim United High School when it overturned after leaving the road in a field at Bally, reportedly because the pilot had blocked it. Altogether 22 students were injured due to the accident and were admitted to hospital in Margao, South Goa district. After the accident, Cuncolim police appealed to the RTO to inspect the bus and provide information. The report submitted by the inspector of QEPM’s RTO said that “no opinion can be given”. Cuncolim police registered an offense under sections 279 and 337 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against the conductor, Balrath Prabhakar Fondu Velip (46), resident of Nanekarwadi, Morpirla, Quepem taluka. The police team, along with representatives of an NGO, visited the houses of the students killed in the accident and took statements of 19 students. Earlier, statements of three students were recorded. Most of the students of Herido studied in secondary school, while some were senior secondary students of the same institution. After the accident, fathers have expressed concern about the safety of their sons traveling in Balrath buses. Balrath’s employees’ union had also announced that Balrath’s buses were in urgent need of repair or, in some cases, replacement as they were not in working condition. However, Minister of Principals Pramod Sawant had said that the management of schools should be concerned about the suitability of running Balrath’s buses, as the government is providing funds to the management of schools to carry out maintenance works. Of buses. Director of Education Shailesh Sinai Zingde also said that now is the time for the school leadership to act in a more responsible manner in terms of maintenance of Balrath’s buses.