By Admin 
The negligence of the bus driver and conductor has come to light in the Jaipur bus fire accident on Tuesday (28 October) in Rajasthan. Despite hesitation and refusal of the passengers, the driver and conductor were forcefully taking the bus forward on the very narrow, unpaved and potholed road. As soon as the bus caught fire after coming in contact with the high tension wire, the driver and conductor jumped and ran away. He made no effort to save any passenger.
In fact, a private sleeper bus was burnt to ashes after being hit by a high tension bus at some distance from Manoharpur Toll Plaza on Delhi Highway, about 75 kilometers from Jaipur city. Three passengers on the bus died, while more than a dozen passengers were seriously burnt. The injured have been admitted to different hospitals for treatment, where the condition of some is said to be critical.
The passengers were residents of Pilibhit
All seventy passengers traveling in the private sleeper bus are residents of different villages of Puranpur tehsil of Pilibhit district of UP. Everyone was coming here to work at a brick kiln. In the accident, all the belongings of the passengers who were safe in the bus were burnt to ashes. Even the women’s dupatta and chunari have been burnt and they have had to cover their bodies with their clothes. Despite saving their lives, the tears in the eyes of the victims are not stopping.
There was no emergency exit in the bus
Like Jaisalmer, this bus also had no exit gate at the rear. There was no emergency exit window. There were no fire extinguishing equipment. The laborers coming to work at the brick kiln were coming here along with the women and children of their families.
He had to stay at the kiln till the rains started next year, hence he was bringing his entire household including bike, bicycle, gas cylinder, ration, clothes etc. on the roof of the bus. The luggage kept on the roof of the bus itself came under the influence of high tension wire.
70 passengers sitting in a bus with capacity of 36 passengers
Every item kept in the bus has been burnt to ashes. After being caught in the fire, some gas cylinders also exploded. After the cylinder blast the fire spread more rapidly. This accident happened just 300 meters before reaching the destination i.e. from the brick kiln. Only 36 passengers could sit in this private sleeper bus, but around 70 passengers were sitting in it. That means, twice more passengers were accommodated in it than its capacity.
Deputy CM Bairava ordered investigation
After the bus caught fire, many passengers saved their lives by jumping out of the bus by breaking its glass. Many people have been hurt in this also. Deputy CM and Transport Department Minister Premchand Bairwa has ordered an investigation into the incident. He has talked about tightening the noose on private buses operating against the rules, but he had made similar statements after the Jaisalmer accident two weeks ago.
When will the screws be tightened?
Expressing grief over the accident, CM Bhajanlal Sharma has given instructions for proper treatment of the burnt people. Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has also expressed grief over the incident. The question is that despite the frequent accidents, when will the government tighten its grip on the private buses that are running on the roads in violation of the law?