16 years on, Rs 1.8 crore relief ordered for accident victims

Police sources said that the accident took place between Sankari and Vaikuntam in Salem District. The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) Salem Division bus with more than 80 passengers was heading from Erode to Salem. 

Most of the occupants were labourers who were supposed to get down a couple of stops away from where the accident took place. Raja was at the wheels when the bus came near Valakuttai area between Sankari and Vaikuntam around 6.30 p.m. It is learnt that a truck got repaired and occupied some space on the road, due to which the bus driver tried to overtake the same in the road that was not as wide as it is today. 

The bus that went to the right side of the road rammed a tanker heading in the opposite direction. It is said that the bus driver while trying to avoid the collision exposed the diesel tank to the truck, due to which the tanker hit the fuel tank. This resulted in fuel spreading all over the vehicle. 

Meanwhile the driver also plunged the brakes, due to which many persons who were standing in the front landed one over the other on the bonnet. 

The sudden flames from the engine coupled with the diesel left the bus completely destroyed and 28 persons, including 26 passengers, the driver and conductor of the bus and driver and cleaner of the truck dead on the spot. 

More than 30 persons suffered severe burns. In this connection, 65 persons moved the Salem, Namakkal, Erode, Sankari and Madras courts. Trial for all the petitions was conducted before the Special Court for MCOP (motor vehicle accident) Cases in Salem. 

Since three of them did not appear before the court for trail, District judge P Balasubramanian on Thursday announced compensation for the remaining 62 victims and their families. He awarded Rs 1,78,49,899 for families of 30 persons who were killed and 32 persons who escaped with injuries. 

Highest compensation of Rs 16,14,526 was awarded to the family of retired headmaster Govindhan. The lowest compensation was Rs. 7,000 announced to a victim who escaped with injuries. The TNSTC Salem Division was asked to pay the compensation. 

This verdict left the TNSTC worried as they are struggling to pay compensation to the tune of few lakh rupees. Failing to pay the same would result in seizure of many buses, which in turn would affect their day to day bus operations.