Following fatal bus fires, the National Human Rights Commission has ordered chief secretaries to immediately recall buses violating safety norms. This includes removing driver partitions, installing fire detection systems, and stricter checks on bus builders. The NHRC stressed accountability for officials who approved unsafe vehicles, deeming the accident preventable. file photo NEW DELHI: Amid instances of fatal fires in sleeper coach buses, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed all chief secretaries to take immediate action, including to recall buses flouting mandatory safety norms and carry out rectifications. These include removing the partition between driver and passenger section, installation of fire detection and suppression system (FDSS) and stricter checking of accreditation and certification of bus body builders.Terming the violation of motor vehicle rules and automotive standards laying down mandatory norms for sleeper buses by bus body builders and officials as “criminal negligence”, the commission issued directions to state govts to fix accountability on persons whose negligence has endangered public safety. “Initiate immediate action to fix accountability on officials who granted approval for fitness certification of CMVR and AIS,” the human right watchdog said. It has asked states to submit an action taken report in two weeks.The instructions were issued after the commission received an action taken report (ATR) submitted by Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT), an entity under road transport ministry, into the fatal bus fire on Jaisalmer-Jodhpur highway on Oct 14 that claimed 20 lives and left another 16 injured.CIRT identified shortcomings in the bus body building, which violated the safety standards prescribed under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR) and Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) for sleeper coach buses. These included the driver partition door, inadequate emergency exits and non-existent FDSS. These findings have also been formally communicated to Rajasthan govt.CIRT suggested recalling all sleeper coach buses, immediate removal of driver partition doors and sliders fitted to all sleeper berths. It also suggested that all such buses should install FDSS within one month and fire extinguishers of 10 kg must be checked and all bus bodies built with extension to chassis must be removed from operation.NHRC noted that the bus that caught fire was not built in accordance to rules for sleeper coaches with the bus body builder violating mandatory safety norms and wondered how it was permitted to operate despite gross violations. “This reflects serious systemic lapses not only on the bus manufacturer/ body builder but also on part of transport department officials who are responsible for approval, inspection and fitness certificate. This compels the commission to further observe that this accident was completely preventable, had the officials concerned enforced mandatory safety standards and in letter and spirit,” it said.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos“Our Rashtra Built On Culture, Not Clashes”: RSS Chief’s Big Claim On Nationhood“Oppression Will Trigger Jihad”: Jamiat Chief’s Explosive Claim Stirs StormEAM Jaishankar Decodes Massive US China Power Shift And Global Realignment In Sharp Kolkata AddressImran Khan Isolation Sparks Fury As PTI Claims His Photo Could Transform Pak’s Political RealityDelhi Court Extends Anmol Bishnoi’s Custody; NIA Probes Gang-Terror LinksAviation Expert Flags Deadly Risk In A320 Fleet After Critical Control System FailurePakistan Still Licking Op Sindoor Wounds: BSF Warns Next Attack Will Trigger Even Stronger ResponseAfter India’s 8.2% GDP Jump, Piyush Goyal Credits Reforms And Predicts Strong, Sustained ExpansionIMD Issues Red Alert as Cyclone Ditwah Approaches TN; Sri Lanka Deaths Exceed 80Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar Project Unity After High-Stakes Karnataka Meet Amid Rumours Of Cong Rift123Photostories5 animals that went extinct in recentyearsKajol to Janhvi Kapoor: Celebrity looks that defined today’s fashion mood board8 air-purifying indoor plants that naturally absorb harmful gasesFrom Dharmendra to Amjad Khan: Remembering the ‘Sholay’ stars who are no longer with usGen Z sensations Aneet Padda & Ahaan Panday serve old-school romance with their viral ‘Saiyaara’ glow-upHyderabad Unveils India’s First Mobile Anti-Drone Vehicle to Boost Security MeasuresIn Pics | Tesla Opens India’s First All-In-One Facility in GurgaonNoida Apple Store Unveiled: India’s Fifth Retail Location with Peacock-Inspired Design at DLF Mall of India7 animals that became space travellers ahead of humansShilpa Shetty yet again serves major fashion goals with her silver saree-jacket combo123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayNew Labour CodeWorld NewsGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingGiannis AntetokounmpoBo BichetteWWE Smackdown HighlightsDonald TrumpPerez HiltonCyclone DitwahR AshwinAyesha CurryFuzzy ZoellerJammie Booker
NEW DELHI: Amid instances of fatal fires in sleeper coach buses, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed all chief secretaries to take immediate action, including to recall buses flouting mandatory safety norms and carry out rectifications. These include removing the partition between driver and passenger section, installation of fire detection and suppression system (FDSS) and stricter checking of accreditation and certification of bus body builders.Terming the violation of motor vehicle rules and automotive standards laying down mandatory norms for sleeper buses by bus body builders and officials as “criminal negligence”, the commission issued directions to state govts to fix accountability on persons whose negligence has endangered public safety. “Initiate immediate action to fix accountability on officials who granted approval for fitness certification of CMVR and AIS,” the human right watchdog said. It has asked states to submit an action taken report in two weeks.The instructions were issued after the commission received an action taken report (ATR) submitted by Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT), an entity under road transport ministry, into the fatal bus fire on Jaisalmer-Jodhpur highway on Oct 14 that claimed 20 lives and left another 16 injured.CIRT identified shortcomings in the bus body building, which violated the safety standards prescribed under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR) and Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) for sleeper coach buses. These included the driver partition door, inadequate emergency exits and non-existent FDSS. These findings have also been formally communicated to Rajasthan govt.CIRT suggested recalling all sleeper coach buses, immediate removal of driver partition doors and sliders fitted to all sleeper berths. It also suggested that all such buses should install FDSS within one month and fire extinguishers of 10 kg must be checked and all bus bodies built with extension to chassis must be removed from operation.NHRC noted that the bus that caught fire was not built in accordance to rules for sleeper coaches with the bus body builder violating mandatory safety norms and wondered how it was permitted to operate despite gross violations. “This reflects serious systemic lapses not only on the bus manufacturer/ body builder but also on part of transport department officials who are responsible for approval, inspection and fitness certificate. This compels the commission to further observe that this accident was completely preventable, had the officials concerned enforced mandatory safety standards and in letter and spirit,” it said.
