PMPML: 18 accidents in 56 days,drivers still at work

It is mandatory for the PMPML to maintain records of the accidents that their drivers are involved in. While the details of the accidents are entered in the form of a table,records such as drivers’ report card,action taken against them and a copy of the FIR have been missing from the register entries,” said RTI activist Jugal Rathi. Eight of the accidents were fatal that killed 8 persons. On May 18,65-year-old Rukmini Sable was killed after the driver rammed into the bus stop near Fatima Nagar. The register entry mentions that the driver has a prior record of being involved in an accident on December 25 last year; but he was allowed to continue. Three such drivers were driving despite having prior accident-related records.

Mailkar’s record shows four FIRs (for fatal accidents) with three injuries and five ‘adjustments’. Still he was never taken off work in last 15 years. “He is on daily wages and the accidents caused by him have blocked his growth opportunities as he has not been taken on PMPML payroll. This is a bigger loss compared to any other punishment,” said a PMPML official.

Of the 18 buses involved in accidents,six are private buses and the PMPML does not have any information about the drivers of such buses. An official of the Accident Department said PMPML records are maintained of the accidents. “But FIR records are handled by higher authorities.”