How to invite a disaster - accident at Pothanikkad
March 28th, 2008
Yesterday in a shocking and tragic accident, 7 people died on the spot when they were hit by a lorry on the road. Over 30 people had suffered injuries and are in hospital. In retaliation, congress activists destroyed the lorry and the lorry driver was taken into police custody. It appears that he was not intoxicated. So what caused the accident?
Where in the world are you supposed to stand in the middle of a public transport road?
My guess is that the lorry driver wasn’t expecting a huge crowd standing in the middle of the road. On suddenly seeing the crowd he probably lost his nerve and couldn’t apply brakes.
The majority of accidents in Kerala are caused due to three things - first two are drunken driving and the pathetic state of kerala roads. Now the third factor is that people consider road as a kind of playground to organize political marches, onam celebrations, religious festivals and possessions etc. etc. It drives me mad when I see some idiots blocking the national highway just because they want to celebrate something.
In many places you can see temples, churches etc. encroaching into the road. In some places I have seen them even in the middle of the road! You don’t need to take a phd to know that these things can easily cause accidents leading to unnecessary loss of life. Many use religion as a weapon to suppress others.
There are many places in the world which are more narrower and more poorer than us. But even in those places, people are intelligent enough keep the road for what it is intended - vehicular traffic!
Whether it is religious processions or political marches we need to identify some fixed place to organize them. Every time a road is closed for these things, fundamental constitutional right of somebody else is violated.
But who will bell the cat?
Now here is what is really going to happen. Government will say they will tighten traffic rules. Police will stop every car without a seat belt and every scooter guy without a helmet and collect fines. The current rate of bribe from tipper lorries will probably increase by 10%.
Congress party just announced 5lakhs for the families of the dead. But can even 500crores replace the dead human being for the families?
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March 29th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
true…..very true!!!!! I agree 110% with this.
May 13th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Some people even think the road is their porch and cause havoc to motorists. Such people should definitely be arrested by the police.
May 19th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
On highways, we often come across KSRTC buses and private buses which forcefully overtake, even if vehicles come from the opposite direction. These drivers wilfully cause accidents.
Such violations should be booked. Although such incidents are being reported to the police, they take no action!!! We need strict enforcement of traffic laws by the police in this regard. Stop the forceful overtaking by KSRTC buses and similar large vehicles!!!!
May 20th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
I agree completely. many politicians (read their followers) think that they own the road and if ther eis a meeting, its their right to divert the traffic and what does our police do? they divert the traffic…. or worse stop them.
I mean it should be the other way right, they should not be allowed to meeting on the busy roads. The police should chase them away. well the easiest way is to chase away the dumb public.