The tragic mishap occurred when a NTC bus heading towards Port Louis lost control and flipped over on the motorway at Montebello junction, Sorèze. This latest accident in a series of similar ones over a number of years is now raising passenger safety issues and concerns over alleged negligence of maintenance. News on Sunday investigates.
ACCORING TO latest statistics from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, National Development Unit, Land Transport and Shipping the total number of NTC buses involved in accidents since 2007 to the present day is 3,884 out of which 24 were fatal. A total of 45 persons have died in accidents involving NTC buses since the year 2000.
The NTC Blueline service which was involved in the accident is considered to be the best compared to the rest of the NTC services but when tragedy strikes, it is almost impossible to avoid. It is not the first time that a NTC bus has been involved in controversy; Only recently one of its buses went ablaze on the Caudan flyover. However, many claim that negligence was the main cause of this tragic accident.
The Blue Line Route 163 Express, which departed from Vacoas Bus Station at around 7.40am was full of passengers and according to the first reports of passengers, a brake failure caused the mishap. But ex-NTC workers, passengers and public members have added other elements to this tragic case. Was there really negligence from NTC officials or was it indeed down to spontaneous mechanical fault? NTC General Manager Robin Soonarane denies allegations of poor maintenance. In a statement to Le Défi Media Group. He said that all buses undergo strict maintenance and that he awaits the outcome of the police enquiry.
Bachoo answers his opponents
The Minister of Public Infrastructure, National Development Unit, Land Transport and Shipping, Anil Bachoo has said that all NTC buses are subject to scheduled maintenance. “Daily verification, normal servicing, general service are all carried out based on the manufacturer’s recommendations. All buses undergo fitness test once or twice a year, depending on their age. During examination, the mechanical and electrical components as well as body parts are checked and replaced if needed. Where required, servicing has been outsourced to local agents,” he said.
UBS: ‘Daily maintenance and staff training is essential
UBS Workshop Manager Yousouf Sairally stated that sometimes calamity strikes without any warning. However, when it comes to technical and mechanical issues, certain instances can be avoided. “At this present time everybody is waiting for the detailed report from the experts to ascertain the true cause of this tragic accident. However, it is essential that buses are systematically and regularly inspected, repaired and maintained, and that drivers are properly qualified and trained, especially when public safety is involved. Mishaps can and will occur if there is negligence of any sort.
Fundamental routine checks such as oil in the engine or water are crucial and have to be monitored by the driver as well as the conductor. Furthermore, the proper training of staff is important. They have to know what decisions to take and how to take them. Calamity can strike at any moment and it is the responsibility of the driver and conductor to make sure passengers are as much protected as can be,” stated Yousouf Sairally. The Workshop Manager also evoked the importance of maintaning a good relationship between staff and managers as this facilitates the process of solving work related problems if any.
Passenger who travels four hours daily prefers old buses
Saira Rigbally, a resident of Chemin-Grenier is a daily NTC commuter. She says that NTC buses are like her second home as she spends nearly four hours everyday travelling to and from work by NTC buses. “I have been a frequent user of NTC buses for years. I have never encountered any problem with the conductor or the driver. However, the problems lie with the bus itself; more specifically the new models.
With the old ones safety was never an issue. However, the new ones seemto be more dangerous. At every corner you feel as if the bus is going to tip over,” she said. Saira Rigbally also informed us that often drivers take extra passengers on board. “Sometimes out of pity, the driver picks up more people on bus stops despite the bus being full. The driver is aware that if these passengers do not catch this particular bus, they will have to find another means to get to their destination. So out of pity and on humanitarian ground, he gets them on board. Though, it is always risky.”
NTC: 335 tradesmen for 520 buses
The Engineering Department is led by one acting Chief Engineer and four Senior Technical and Mechanical Officers, one of whom is a registered Professional Engineer. The Senior Technical and Mechanical Officers are responsible for the workshops. The NTC employs 22 Workshops Supervisors and 335 Tradesmen (mechanics, electrician, coach repairers, etc). It owns 520 buses.
Bus owners say some Ashok Leyland models are not safe!
According to I. C, a private bus owner, some Ashok Leyland bus models are not durable and safe. “When driving long routes, as in India, it is ok. However, for small trips, it is not very safe. Many individual bus owners and private companies no longer operate this brand.
They opt for safer and more durable transport from Japan even if they are more expensive, as it pays in the long run in terms of fuel savings, lower maintenance costs and higher reliability,” he said. Another bus operator who has run an Ashok Leyland bus for over 12 years told us that Ashok Leyland buses are indeed reliable, but it is the particular Blueline model that has technical problems. Other models are as good as the Japanese ones. He also revealed that the Ashok Leyland Company in India is now producing state of the art modern low floor low emission buses that have nothing to envy from their Japanese counterparts. “In India, Ashok Leyland coaches travel for up to 12 hours between cities and still reach safely,” he said.
Hino, Isuzu and Mitsubishi buses more popular
News on Sunday conducted a quick survey to find out what type of buses is operated across different routes. We found that the Japanese brands Hino, Isuzu and Mitsubishi brands are more popular among individual bus operators. Two private companies in the north, namely Luna Transport and Mauritian Bus Transport count mainly Hino buses in their fleets. Triolet Bus Service operates a mix of Isuzu, Ashok Leyland and Ashok Hino (India) buses. United Bus Service operates mostly Tata and Eicher buses. However, it has also recently introduced low floor Tata Marco Polo buses. Other bus brands on the market include Daewoo and King Long. It is only the NTC which depends heavily on Tata and Ashok Leyland, though it has recently acquired a number of Nissan buses.
The victims
It would be difficult to understand the trauma and heartache the families of the victims are currently going through. News on Sunday would like to send its deepest condolences to their families and prays that they find strength during this very difficult period. We also wish a speedy recovery to those who are in hospital. Seven of the victims were residents of Quatre Bornes. They are the couple Sanjay and Priya Ajodha, aged 47 and 39; Ameerah Lalmohamed, 24 years old; Shakuntala Ramdoorsingh, aged 40; Ruth Marimootoo, aged 50, Delphine Pookun, 21 and Kamla Devi Soobraydoo, 57. The bus driver, Gunesh Dheepchand, 50 years old, from Petite Rivière, was also a victim. Devesh Cheeneebash aged 19 and from Vacoas was the youngest victim. Elyn Jang Chuan Hu, a foreign student from China and also the Chairperson of the ‘Association internationale des étudiants en sciences économiques et commerciales (AISEC) was the 10th victim.
Figures
There are currently 2,964 buses on our roads. About 1,885 operate under a Road Service Licence. Out of them, 556 are less than 5 years old, 689 are aged between 5 and 10 years and 359 are aged between 10 and 15 years. 281 buses are more than 15 years old. In 2012, 306 buses were involved in accidents in Mauritius, causing 16 deaths.
Mechanical problems that may lead to an accident
Maintaining your vehicle means paying attention to the tyres, brakes, steering and other safety systems to make sure your vehicle is safe to drive. Here are some problems you should watch for:
Underinflated tyres
When a tyre is underinflated by more than 25%, it greatly increases the risk of the tyre overheating and failing, especially when driving at highway speeds during hot weather.
Worn tyres
When the tread on a tyre is worn down, there is not enough tread left to provide safe wet traction. So when the tyre hits a puddle on the road, there isn’t enough groove depth left to handle the water. The water forms a wedge under the tread and literally lifts the tread off the pavement. This is called hydroplaning, and it is a potentially dangerous situation because the tyre is no longer in contact with the road. It is skimming over the water with no directional stability or traction whatsoever. Under these conditions, the vehicle may lose control and spin if the vehicle is turning, accelerating or braking.
Defective parts and other design issues that contribute to auto accidents
Every now and then, a batch of bad parts may slip through the screening process and cause problems for motorists. Any defective part that affects steering or braking could potentially cause an accident. A defective steering or suspension component that breaks and causes loss of steering control would certainly be a contributing factor if the failure resulted in an auto accident. The same goes for a defective brake component that prevented the brakes from stopping the vehicle safely.
Bad brakes
Brake pads and shoes are wear items and have a limited service life. The more you drive and use your brakes, the more the brake linings wear. Eventually, they wear down to the point where they have to be replaced. The hydraulic and mechanical components in the brake system also have a limited service life. Over time, rubber seals and hoses can deteriorate and leak. Metal components can rust and corrode. If the brake system develops a leak, it may cause the brakes to fail because of loss of hydraulic pressure when the brakes are applied. Drivers are advised to check brake fluid regularly. Symptoms of worn brakes include scraping metallic noises when you apply the brakes, a pull to one side when braking, a soft or spongy feeling brake pedal, a low brake pedal, or a pedal that slowly sinks to the floor when holding pressure on the pedal at a stop light. Any of these can create a potentially dangerous situation.
The bus builder : Azad Coach, Delhi
News on Sunday can reveal that the Blueline bus is not entirely manufactured by Ashok Leyland, but by Azad Coach, a Delhi-based company. On its website, the Blueline model is referred to as ‘Azad Maxim’, developed on Ashok Leyland’s front-engine Falcon chassis aiming at medium and short distances transportation market.
The company even boasts that these buses today are running successfully in Mauritius as staff bus, intercity tourist bus in Mauritius, Sri Lanka, UAE, Ghana, Nigeria, Seychelles and other countries. It further specifies that these buses are exported through Ashok Leyland’s export cell to various markets. The company also builds buses for Eicher, Tata and Volvo India. Inupreet Chadha, spokesman of Azad Coach, New Delhi told News on Sunday his company is responsible for the coach building only. He expressed his deep regret for the accident and said any mechanical failure issue can only be dealt by Ashok Leyland.
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