JOIN USThe Rail Ministry has said that the school bus driver was responsible for the accident at the unmanned railway crossing in Masaipet village in Telangana’s Medak district.
Railway Minister D V Sadananda Gowda on Thursday told the House that it was the driver’s negligence that had led to the loss of so many lives. Gowda announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased, Rs 1 lakh to the grievously injured and Rs 20,000 to those who sustained minor injuries.
“According to preliminary reports received by me, the incident took place due to the negligent driving by the school bus driver.
“The driver did not stop the vehicle at the Stop board short of the level crossing to check the approaching train as prescribed in the Motor Vehicles Act 1988,” Gowda said in his statement in both Houses of Parliament.
“The unmanned level crossing in Medak district has relatively low traffic density,” he said, adding that the injured have been shifted to nearby hospitals. Members of both Houses expressed their condolences.
The incident took place at 9.10 am between Wadiaram and Masaipet railway stations on Hyderabad-Nizamabad section, in Medak district, about 60 km from Hyderabad.