Avinash Azad
Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 2: Police blamed a dead bus driver for 2018 road accident Loran-Mandi road in Poonch district which led 13 people to lost their lives including to the driver, allegedly to shield the company which had dug up, wrong side of road for laying for laying optical fibre cable (OFC).
According to sources a case of road accident was registered in Mandi Police Station vide FIR no 103/2018 under section 279, 337, 338 and 304-A on December 8, 2018. "Accordingly on 7th of March 2019, the challan was produced in the court Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Poonch, and in the case the dead driver of the bus was blamed for the accident", sources informed Early Times.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Early Times on January 21, 2019 while gathering information from experts including engineers, Police and officers of district administration had published a detail report into the case.
Sources whishing not to be named informed that another party, which was equally responsible as the 'dead' driver of bus, for the mishap went scot free. "Initially, when the investigation into the case begun, a major fault was found on the part of a company employed for laying OFC, which dug up wrong side of road as prescribe Public Works (R&B) Department and PMGSY as well that the road laying cable will be dug-up on up-side the hill", they said, adding that but in this case the road was dug up on down side of the road.
A senior engineer, who was posted in Poonch district, when the accident took place, said that as per the SOP, the company also signs a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with concerned agency. "As per the MoU, a company can dig uphillside for laying the cable, and the concerned has to monitor it, whether the terms and conditions are being followed or not", he said.
The Engineer further said that in case of Mandi-Loran road where the accident took place the road was dug-up downside, in violation of MoU, and unfortunately, the PMGSY kept silence, and overlooking its duty.
However, the then SHO Police Station Mandi, had hinted the negligence of another party. "A under section 336 (act of endangering life of personal safety of other) stands registered, It is not appropriate now to say anything, as the investigation is going on", the SHO had told this correspondent, but things go changed when Police produced the challan.
"We request the Governor to look into the 'manipulation' done with the finding of enquiry conducted by the district administration", said a family member of Loran-Mandi bus accident, adding that otherwise it would be injustice with those innocent who lost their lives.
Deputy Commissioner, Poonch, Rahul Yadav when contacted said that there was negligence on the part of driver as well as the company which dug-up the road. "An enquiry into Loran-Mandi road accident was conducted by the ADC, Poonch and the enquiry report found negligence on the part of the bus driver who died in the road accident and the company which dug-up the road", he added.
The Deputy Commission at the time of road accident had said, "It has been made cleared that the concerned Executive Engineer would be responsible, if any mishap takes place under his/her jurisdiction." But in this case where PMGSY was main government agency as said road by constructed by it, escaped actions.
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