Drivers want faulty buses replaced in Ooty

The conductor of the ill-fated bus, Prakash (42), succumbed to his injuries at Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital on Friday morning. The drivers said that they are on the edge due to poor maintenance of buses plying on the risky hill roads.

“Lack of proper maintenance and faulty brakes led to the accident killing nine people. The bus had faulty brakes and led to a fatal roll, down the valley. All old and unfit buses should be identified and replaced by new ones, particularly in Nilgiris. While buses should be replaced after every six years, it is never done across Tamil Nadu,” said Syed Ibrahim, AITUC state general secretary.

Prompted by the deadly accident, the drivers in Udhagamandalam refused to operate their buses citing their poor condition on Friday.

“We were asked to cover a trip from Udhagamandalam to Palani in Dindigul district using a bus plied locally between Udhagamandalam town and Mel Kundah. This bus has not been in proper condition as it has not been serviced and it’s risky for long distances,” said a driver, preferring anonymity.

Drivers and conductors went on a flash strike for forcing them to drive unfit buses. As the impasse continued, all buses at Ooty central bus terminus stood still.

The TNSTC officials spoke to the workers and instructed them to use a different bus that was in good condition for the journey to Dindigul. A senior official of the TNSTC, Coimbatore Circle said that they would soon examine the status of buses running on the hill route and do away with older ones in poor condition.

Besides the faulty buses, the absence of a multi-speciality hospital, a long time demand of residents of Ooty, was also cited as one of the reasons for the climbing death rate in the mishap.