Sri Vijaya Puram, July 13: Following two State Transport Service (STS) bus accidents within 10 days that left several passengers, including school children, injured, Member of Parliament Bishnu Pada Ray has urged the Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to introduce a comprehensive STS Passenger Accident Relief, Medical Assistance and Safety Policy. The proposal seeks to establish a permanent mechanism for immediate medical care, financial assistance and long-term passenger safety measures for victims of government-operated public transport accidents.
In a letter addressed to the Lieutenant Governor, the MP referred to the STS bus accident near Rangat on June 30, 2026, in which several passengers sustained injuries. Some of the injured were referred to G.B. Pant Hospital, Sri Vijaya Puram, for advanced treatment. Among them, 59-year-old Prakash Roy reportedly suffered a serious hip injury and has been advised specialised treatment at a mainland hospital.
The MP also cited the second STS bus accident that occurred near Kishorinagar in North Andaman on July 9, 2026, in which several passengers, including school children, were injured. Referring to both incidents, he stated that similar accidents have occurred in the past and stressed the need for a structured policy to support victims instead of relying on ad hoc measures.
Bishnu Pada Ray stated that as STS is a government-operated public transport service, the Administration has both a moral and institutional responsibility to ensure timely medical treatment and financial assistance for injured passengers. He also referred to representations submitted by Hindu Rashtra Shakti (HRS), which highlighted the hardships faced by accident victims due to the absence of an organised system for treatment, evacuation and rehabilitation.
The MP requested that all injured passengers be provided complete cashless medical treatment, including medicines, surgeries, diagnostic tests, implants, physiotherapy and rehabilitation. He further sought government funding for ambulance services, air travel, medical evacuation, one attendant and follow-up treatment whenever referral to mainland hospitals becomes necessary.
He also requested immediate medical assessment and mainland treatment of Prakash Roy at government expense if recommended by doctors.
Seeking financial support for victims, the MP proposed immediate ex gratia assistance of ₹2 lakh for every grievously injured passenger and ₹50,000 for those requiring hospitalisation or prolonged treatment. He further suggested higher financial assistance in cases involving permanent disability or referral to mainland hospitals.
To strengthen emergency response, Bishnu Pada Ray proposed the appointment of a senior Transport Department officer as a Nodal Officer to coordinate medical treatment, evacuation, financial assistance and support to affected families.
The MP also called for an immediate safety audit of all STS buses, covering vehicle fitness, braking systems, tyres, steering, emergency exits, GPS facilities, fire safety equipment and maintenance records. He further sought a review of drivers’ medical fitness, duty hours, training and accident history, along with corrective measures on accident-prone roads.
As a long-term measure, he urged the Administration to formulate a permanent STS Passenger Accident Relief, Medical Assistance and Safety Policy providing for automatic ex gratia assistance, cashless treatment, passenger accident insurance, a dedicated Passenger Accident Relief Fund, medical evacuation protocols, a single-window Passenger Response Cell, independent investigation of major accidents, periodic safety audits and fixed timelines for treatment and financial assistance.
The MP also observed that governments in many States and Union Territories immediately announce ex gratia assistance and deploy senior officials to support accident victims and bereaved families. In contrast, he expressed concern that the response in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands generally remains limited to criminal investigations and departmental proceedings, with no institutional mechanism for immediate humanitarian assistance.
He has also proposed the formulation of a Standard Operating Procedure for responding to major road accidents, providing for prompt visits by senior officers, emergency medical support, counselling, rehabilitation, ex gratia assistance and coordinated action among all concerned departments. According to the MP, such a framework would ensure faster relief for accident victims, improve passenger safety and strengthen public confidence in the State Transport Service.
