’Faulty’ Volvo design led to fire mishap: AP CID investigators
The Andhra Pradesh police Crime Investigation Department (CID) said here today that "faulty" design of Volvo buses is among the three major causes for a fire which engulfed a luxury bus and claimed 45 lives on October 30 last year, near Palem in Mahabubnagar district.
"The CID’s finding shows that there is a ’defect’ in the design of Volvo buses which do not make them road worthy. This is our finding and we will write to the Government of India about it. We will shortly file a chargesheet. Volvo as a company has also been made an accused in the case," Additional Director General of Police (CID) T Krishna Prasad told reporters here today.
He also cited negligence of the driver, faulty engineering of the road, as well as faulty design of the Volvo bus, as among the three major factors responsible for the incident.In the accident which occurred on October 30 last year, 45 passengers, including 19 software engineers were charred to death after a Volvo bus run by a private operator Jabbar Travels went up in flames, after hitting a culvert on National Highway 44 near Palem in Andhra Pradesh.
According to CID investigations, the design of the Volvo bus is such that one main fuel tank of 300 litres is very close to the battery compartment, which tends to be in close proximity to the road on the right hand side of the bus.
After the bus hit the culvert, the iron pipe on the culvert railing broke and pierced into the bus, due to which sparks emanated from the battery compartment, igniting the main fuel tank, which was made of plastic, Prasad explained.
"This pipe acted like a capillary and spilled the fuel into the bus. The entire interior of the bus was made of PVC material, which is highly inflammatory. Emergency exit doors were blocked by passenger seats, in violation of rules. The owner and the operator had altered the interior design to accommodate more passengers, to maximise revenue," he said.
The bus manufacturer Volvo, bus owners Diwakar Road Lines and bus operator Jabbar Travels, had all made the bus dangerous to human life, he said, adding that investigations showed that the owners of Jabbar Travels and Diwakar Road Lines also created false documents of lease agreements on different dates.
Meanwhile, in a related development, the Andhra Pradesh CID which probed the ghastly Volvo bus mishap, arrested two more persons in the case today, including the owner of Diwakar Road Lines J C Uma Reddy and its manager Yaseen Abdul Raheman, he said, adding that during investigation, the CID added 14 sections under the Indian Penal Code and 16 sections under the Motor Vehicles Act, besides six sections under Motor Vehicles Act Rules.
A total of nine people, including bus driver Feroze Basha and one of the owners of Jabbar Travels, Shakeen Jabbar, besides its employees have been arrested, so far, he said.
The AP CID adopted a multi-disciplinary approach to examine criminal culpability of bus manufacturer Volvo, the Road Transport Authority in Hyderabad and Bangalore, the National Highway Authority of India as well as national highway contractors, he said.
Please note that under 66A of the IT Act, sending offensive or menacing messages through electronic communication service and sending false messages to cheat, mislead or deceive people or to cause annoyance to them is punishable. It is obligatory on kemmannu.com to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request. Hence, sending offensive comments using kemmannu.com will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Kemmannu.com be held responsible.
Similarly, Kemmannu.com reserves the right to edit / block / delete the messages without notice any content received from readers.
Final Journey of Judith Lewis (91 years) | LIVE From Kallianpur
Rozaricho Gaanch April, 2024 - Ester issue
Final Journey Of Theresa D’Souza (79 years) | LIVE From Kemmannu | Udupi |
Invest Smart and Earn Big!
Creating a World of Peaceful Stay!
For the Future Perfect Life that you Deserve! Contact : Rohan Corporation, Mangalore.
Final Journey Of Joe Victor Lewis (46 years) | LIVE From Kemmannu | Organ Donor | Udupi |
Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur, Udupi - Parish Bulletin - Feb 2024 Issue
Way Of Cross on Good Friday 2024 | Live From | St. Theresa’s Church, Kemmannu, Udupi | LIVE
Good Friday 2024 | St. Theresa’s Church, Kemmannu | LIVE | Udupi
2 BHK Flat for sale on the 6th floor of Eden Heritage, Santhekatte, Kallianpur, Udupi
Maundy Thursday 2024 | LIVE From St. Theresa’s Church, Kemmannu | Udupi |
Kemmennu for sale 1 BHK 628 sqft, Air Conditioned flat
Symphony98 Releases Soul-Stirring Rendition of Lenten Hymn "Khursa Thain"
Palm Sunday 2024 at St. Theresa’s Church, Kemmannu | LIVE
Final Journey of Patrick Oliveira (83 years) || LIVE From Kemmannu
Carmel School Science Exhibition Day || Kmmannu Channel
Final Journey of Prakash Crasta | LIVE From Kemmannu || Kemmannu Channel
ಪ್ರಗತಿ ಮಹಿಳಾ ಮಹಾ ಸಂಘ | ಸ್ತ್ರೀಯಾಂಚ್ಯಾ ದಿಸಾಚೊ ಸಂಭ್ರಮ್ 2024 || ಸಾಸ್ತಾನ್ ಘಟಕ್
Valentine’s Day Special❤️||Multi-lingual Covers || Symphony98 From Kemmannu
Rozaricho Gaanch December 2023 issue, Mount Rosary Church Santhekatte Kallianpur, Udupi
An Ernest Appeal From Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur, Diocese of Udupi
Diocese of Udupi - Uzvd Decennial Special Issue
Final Journey Of Canute Pinto (52 years) | LIVE From Mount Rosary Church | Kallianpura | Udupi
Earth Angels Anniversary | Comedy Show 2024 | Live From St. Theresa’s Church | Kemmannu | Udupi
Kemmannu Cricket Match 2024 | LIVE from Kemmannu
Naturya - Taste of Namma Udupi - Order NOW
New Management takes over Bannur Mutton, Santhekatte, Kallianpur. Visit us and feel the difference.
Focus Studio, Near Hotel Kidiyoor, Udupi
Earth Angels - Kemmannu Since 2023
Kemmannu Channel - Ktv Live Stream - To Book - Contact Here
Click here for Kemmannu Knn Facebook Link