No first aid boxes in mofussil buses

Unable to bear the pain, he asked the conductor to open the first aid box that was available but the conductor blankly said there was nothing inside the first aid box and asked him to get down in the mid-way for first aid and find a hospital for himself. Similar incidents are common for passengers of mofussil buses across the state which have no first aid box and the passengers are often taken for a ride at midnight.   

However, the Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicles Rules say that every bus should compulsorily have a first aid box with adequate stock of medicine. But almost all the buses of TNSTC and SETC have no such boxes to be used in the times of emergency. 

M Sekaran, member of the district road safety council, said: “Often the passengers get hurt hit by the sharp edges of the seats when sudden brake is applied or if they fall down while climbing a raised footboard and get cut injuries with sharp metal plate projections in the bus. We have insisted at all road safety meetings that first aid boxes must be kept in all the buses.”

When contacted, Tiruchy Divisional Manager (Technical) said the corporation had been giving periodical training to the bus crew and emphasising on first aid boxes with medicines. “I will personally check the buses and initiate action against the bus crew if first aid box is not available,” the official said.