Vadakkanchery bus tragedy: HC issues orders on unsafe buses, reckless driving

Kerala High Court on Thursday issued directions against plying of contract carriages which flout norms and reckless driving on the roads after the incident of the Vadakkanchery bus tragedy. The tragic bus accident in Vadakkanchery a day ago claimed nine lives, including five students who were part of a school excursion on a private bus.

While a Division Bench directed action against contract carriages which violate safety standards and sought details of vloggers who promote the use of such vehicles, a single judge said the deleterious element of reckless driving needs to be addressed to prevent the roads from turning into “killing fields”.

The Bench of Justices Anil K Narendran and P G Ajithkumar also noted that despite its orders against the use of such vehicles, especially to ferry students, various vloggers were posting videos on YouTube and other online platforms promoting contract carriages with unauthorised fittings and high-power audio system, among others, flouting safety standards. The single judge took up the accident matter based on a message received from a passenger of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC).