GSRTC buses which are no better than the one that had met with the mishap are found running on the same Bodeli -Waghbod route.
Even as the family members of the 44 children, who died in the Bodeli bus mishap exactly a year ago, are planning to perform various rituals to pray for the souls on Thursday, official apathy is not far to see on the route where the mishap took place.
GSRTC buses which are no better than the one that had met with the mishap are found running on the same Bodeli -Waghbod route.
On April 16, 2008, the GSRTC bus (GJ-18-V-3697) carrying schoolchildren to Bodeli for their annual exams plunged into the Narmada canal after hitting the bridge over the canal. The students were from nearby Bamroli and Wagbod villages.
The children drowned in the canal waters. This was one of the most tragic incidents of 2008 in Gujarat. An inquiry was ordered and it was found that it was only because of the rickety bus that the mishap took place. The bus had travelled more kms than the prescribed limit.
There was a big hue and cry after the mishap. All GSRTC buses were checked and some of them were even discarded. But a year after the fatal mishap, buses no better than the mishap bus are still running on the same Bodeli -Waghbod route.
One such bus which is running on the route has already travelled more than 10 lakh km. The bus (GJ-18-V-3879) is now running between Wagbod and Bodeli. The bus is in pathetic condition. Out of the two headlights, one headlight is already broken. The handle lock of the door is broken. The tyre is in bad shape. The meter which shows the number of km that the bus has travelled is not working for long. Some of the seats are damaged and the passengers have to sit on iron frames.
The driver, Narsinhbhai, said: “We have to follow the orders from our seniors, so we have to run the bus even though it is in bad shape.”
An official at Bodeli workshop said on the condition of anonymity: “The bus has travelled more than 12 lakh km. We also feel that buses in good condition should run on all the routes, but we are helpless.”
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