RTO Panel To Probe Mahanadi Bridge Mishap

Cuttack: A day after the tragic bus accident on Mahanadi bridge, the Regional Transport Office (RTO) on Wednesday formed a three-member committee to probe the exact cause, leading to death of 10 persons so far.

Informing this to the media Regional Transport Officer (RTO), Cuttack, Dipti Ranjan Patra said the committee, led by the Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI), will probe the accident. On the basis of the report, appropriate action would be taken, he added.

Giving details about the ill-fated private bus ‘Jagannath’ (OD-35A-0211), Patra identified the owner of the bus as Srikant Pani of Talcher in Angul district. The bus was registered with the RTO in Talcher. “The bus had a proper fitness certificate, which was valid till February 18, 2019. The vehicle was also insured and the insurance was valid till January 10, 2019. The bus was registered on February 16, 2016,” he added.

Talking to the media, secretary of the Odisha Private Bus Owners’ Association Debendra Sahu said the driver of the vehicle, who is seriously injured, had over 30 years of driving experience.

Also Read: Seven Killed As Bus Falls Off Mahanadi Bridge

Asked about the possible reason behind the accident, he said the driver most probably could not see the buffalo in the dark since there are no lights on the bridge. He applied sudden brakes on noticing it and lost control over the vehicle, which skidded off the road and plunged into the river bed.

Replying to the speed limit, Sahu said the Transport department, at the time of giving route permit to long-distance buses, had fixed the speed limit at 80 kmph on the bridge. “If the department revises its order and reduces the speed limit to 40 kmph, the drivers will abide by it,” he added.