Rangat, July 15: A State Transport Service (STS) bus met with an accident near Kalsi Village in North and Middle Andaman 14 july morning, marking the third reported STS bus accident in recent weeks and renewing concerns over the safety and mechanical condition of public transport vehicles operating across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The accident occurred at around 9.40 a.m. on Kalsi Village Road while the bus was operating on the Rangat-Kalsi route. According to officials, six passengers were travelling in the vehicle at the time of the incident. No injuries were reported.
Officials said statements recorded from the passengers indicated that the driver was operating the bus at a controlled speed before the accident occurred.
According to the Assistant Engineer (AE), STS, the accident occurred after the front suspension spring of the bus broke, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Concerned authorities later towed the bus back onto the road. The situation was restored to normal, and traffic movement in the area remained unaffected.
The latest incident comes after two other STS bus accidents reported in recent weeks.
On June 30, an STS bus carrying 55 passengers overturned near Shabari in Rangat, leaving several passengers injured. Ten injured passengers were referred to G.B. Pant Hospital, Sri Vijaya Puram, for advanced treatment, while others received treatment at Rangat Hospital. Authorities initiated an investigation to determine whether the accident resulted from brake failure, another mechanical defect or any other cause.
Again on July 9, an STS bus carrying 58 passengers overturned near Kishori Nagar while operating on the Diglipur-Paschimsagar route. The accident left 28 people injured, including 17 school students and 11 civilians. All injured passengers were shifted for medical treatment, while one student requiring specialised ENT care was referred to G.B. Pant Hospital.
Following the Kishori Nagar accident, the North and Middle Andaman District Administration suspended the bus driver pending inquiry and ordered a detailed investigation to determine the cause of the accident and fix responsibility.
The latest mishap near Kalsi Village did not result in any casualties or injuries, but it follows two serious STS accidents within a short period. Officials have attributed Tuesday’s accident to a mechanical failure involving the front suspension spring.
Authorities restored normal traffic soon after the damaged bus was removed from the road.
