Bus driver talking on phone caused accident: Report

Odisha government Transport Commissioner Chandra Sekhar Kumar today said the driver of the ill-fated bus, which fell off a bridge killing 19 people in Angul yesterday, was talking on his mobile phone while driving the vehicle.
"The driver's attention was distracted as he was talking on his mobile phone, leading to the mishap," Kumar said based on preliminary reports from the Angul Regional Transport Officer (RTO).
Kumar said the bus was overloaded and over-speeding also attributed to the mishap. The bus was 16 years old and was fit to run on road, he said based on the RTO report.
The mishap took place yesterday near Deulijhari when the bus from Boudh to Athamallik fell off the bridge at Puruna Manitri. The driver is still absconding, the police said.

Kumar said there would be a meeting with the Bus Owners' Association on September 12.
"Now there is a growing demand not to allow any bus after 15 years of running on the road," he said adding, a ban on use of mobile phones by the drivers was needed.

Meanwhile, a report submitted by the four-member team of the district administration of Angul also said overloading and reckless driving led to the bus accident at Athamallik.
"Both the bus owner and the driver are absconding. We can get the exact reason of the accident after the driver is nabbed," said Anil Samal, Collector of Angul district.

A day after the tragic bus accident, students of Athamallik college today organised a bandh demanding Rs ten lakh compensation for the family members of the deceased, arrest of the bus driver and the RTO who gave fitness certificate to the vehicle and plying of new buses on the Athamallik-Boudh route.
No vehicular movement was seen due to the bandh. Shops, business establishments and educational institutions also remained closed, officials said.