Four-year-old Anay Jain was burnt alive in a passenger bus in Shajapur on May 16. It is being said that the child could not get out because the emergency exit in the bus did not open. On this route, most buses are not follow the rules. Emergency exits are not opening even after kicking and hitting with a hammer.
After the accident, the Dainik Bhaskar team reached the front of the restaurant where the bus had burnt. There is a smell of burning here. After this, we reached the bus stand hoping that the situation might have changed after the accident. But, the scene here was as if nothing had happened two days ago.
First, take a look at these two pictures
The emergency gate in the bus had to be opened by kicking
Even after pushing, the bus’s emergency gate did not open
Now, the picture below is of that father whose four-year-old son was burnt alive two days ago in a bus going to Gwalior in Shajapur. First, he helped others, but could not save his son.
On May 16, the father broke down upon seeing his son’s body
Father said – Saved others, lost my son
Abhishek Jain, father of the deceased Anay, said – I was saving everyone, but I could not save my own child. Strict action should be taken against such bus operators and responsible people.
Abhishek Jain says that after helping others, I ran to get my son out, but the fire spread so rapidly that I couldn’t even enter the bus. There was no means to open the emergency gate.
There was no means to open the rear window. The driver and cleaner fled as soon as the fire started. If action is taken, it should be such that it sets an example, so that such an accident does not happen in the future, and no one is called a father like me.
Why didn’t the emergency exit gate open?
On the night of May 16, around 9 PM, the bus departed from Indore for Gwalior. Around 12 AM, it stopped for a break at a restaurant about 20 kilometers from Shajapur. Female passenger Malti Sharma says that first, there was a smell of burning wiring in the bus.
After this, fire erupted from the bonnet. Passengers broke windows and jumped out. But, 4-year-old innocent Anay Jain got trapped inside and was burnt alive. The biggest question is why the emergency exit gate in the bus did not open?
If instead of abandoning the bus and fleeing, the driver, conductor, and cleaner had opened the emergency gate, it’s possible Anay’s life could have been saved.
On May 16, a child was burnt alive in this very bus
Bhaskar team inspected 25 to 30 buses
Dainik Bhaskar’s team inspected 25 to 30 buses in Shajapur after the accident. Shocking negligence came to light. In most buses, emergency gates were found to be installed merely for show. Somewhere the gates were tied with ropes, and somewhere, there was a seat in front of the gate.
In many buses, a separate key has to be taken from the driver or conductor to open the emergency gate. This means that at the time of an accident, passengers cannot save their own lives. In many buses, the emergency gate did not open even with kicks and hammers.
No Fire fighter system, first aid box either
Buses also lacked a fire fighter system and a first aid box. One driver clearly stated, “It has just been removed, the owner said he would get it installed later.” Another said, “There is a small fire extinguisher, we will get a bigger one.” This means that passenger safety is not a priority for either bus owners or the administration.
Passenger Jai Verma, who was traveling in the bus, said that buses are overloaded beyond capacity. Emergency gates are only for namesake. SIM cards and ropes are tied from the outside. If an accident happens, passengers have no way to escape.
The bus also lacked fire safety equipment
Major negligence found in bus safety inspection
1. Kaljoria Bus (Byawara Indore)
Arrival time in Shajapur: 1:10 PM
Status: Despite being a 42-seater bus, more passengers than the capacity were found. A seat was placed near the emergency gate. There was not enough space to exit in an emergency.
2. Ghanshyam Bus (Shajapur Polaykala)
Arrival time at Shajapur Bus Stand: 1 PM
Status: No fire extinguisher found in the 42-seater bus. The emergency gate was not opening due to rust.
3. Maa Rajrajeshwari Bus (Shajapur Ujjain)
Status: The emergency gate of the 42-seater bus was found to be faulty. The driver had to force the gate open himself. No fire extinguisher was visible either.
4. Sarraf Bus (Aron Village, Indore)
Arrival time in Shajapur: 12 PM
Status: The exit gate of the 42-seater bus was found tied with a rope. The bus later departed for Indore.
