BELA: Bus owners Zahoor and Manzoor named have been booked by local police in an FIR registered in Bela Police Station. This came after some 40 people lost their lives, mostly burnt to death, when the bus on its way from Quetta to Karachi fell of the bridge during wee hours yesterday.
Officials said sections of attempt to commit murder, negligence, rash driving, endangering lives of others have been incorporated in the FIR.
It is alleged that the the bus owners instructed their driver to take the bus to Karachi despite having technical fault. It has been learnt that the bus was already banned for travelling due to over speeding, breaks were not functioning due to technical fault, and after hearing several weird sounds, passengers repeatedly asked to fix the vehicle.
He said that the increase in traffic accidents and the loss of precious lives on Quetta-Karachi highway was very alarming.
He said that Transport Department, Commissioner Kalat, Regional Transport Authority and Highway Police should ensure measures to prevent traffic accidents. “Strict action should be taken against drivers for over speeding of passenger coaches and violation of traffic rules on national highways. Accidents can be controlled by ensuring effective enforcement of traffic rules on national highways, punishing and penalizing speeding drivers and transport companies,” he added.
He said that passengers cannot be left at the mercy of transporters and irresponsible drivers.
