He Drove Kids Straight into the Jaws of Death

Even long experience may not come to one’s rescue, sometimes. Bikshapathi Goud, who was at the wheel of the Kakatiya Techno School bus drove it straight into the jaws of death, overestimating his driving prowess.

As the bus was new to him, he was yet to get a hang of it. When he took it across the tracks, hoping that it would cross by the time the Nanded Passenger reaches the level crossing, the engine stalled, sealing his own fate and that of the others. The driver, who has vast experience and whose license is valid up to November 28, 2014, was assigned the duty in the new route to pick up students. He did not drive that bus in the past.

“When the bus was in the middle of the track and the train was not very far off, the engine stalled. Bikshapathi Goud frantically tried to rev the engine into life but by then the train was too close and in seconds its rammed into it,” said Deputy Transport Commissioner, Medak district, Mamata Prasad. “The bus is new. It was registered in 2012 and its fitness was certified by officials before the schools reopened. Bikshapathi had a valid license till November 28, 2014. The driver appeared to be new to the vehicle. He might have been over-confident or confused while driving the bus,” Mamata Prasad said. The regular driver of the bus was assigned another route to pickup students. Before Bikshapati took to steering the bus, cleaner Ganesh Goud told him that he would help with route directions. The government railway police who visited the spot said passers-by noticed the students screaming loudly minutes before the mishap. Perhaps, the students might have noticed the train that was approaching the bus which suddenly halted in the middle of track. People rushed to the spot and tried to rescue the children. Nizamabd railway police registered cases under section 304 (A) (negligent driving causing death) and 337 (causing hurt by an act of endangering life or personal safety of others) of IPC, and sections 153 and 161 of the Railway Act. Meanwhile, the Telangana government accused the railways of negligence in setting up a gate at the crossing. Additional Director General of Police, CID, T Krishna Prasad, who visited the spot, said the railways has constructed a room at the crossing, but no one was posted there. Krishna Prasad that they would take up the case if the government entrusts it to them.

By Mouli Mareedu

moulimareedu@gmail.com