[kellyhound]

India, The minibus that fell on its side on last Sunday afternoon, left 27 passengers injured, had been plying without valid documents for more than three years, according to transport department records.

The driver of the minibus, S.K, 27, has been arrested. He has purportedly told the police that the steering wheel went out of control and the brake stopped working.

It took the bus to topple on one of the city’s busiest roads for police and the transport authorities to wake up to the gross violation of rules.

The mini bus had been plying without a valid fitness certificate since November 2018.

The owner has not renewed insurance for the bus since 2018 and paid road tax since 2020. The bus also has no pollution-under-control certificate over the past two years.

On Sunday, it was ferrying around 40 people to an engagement ceremony in Howrah when it met with the accident.

According to motor vehicles rules, a commercial vehicle has to renew its fitness certificate every two years after five years from registration. Without a valid certificate of fitness, the vehicle’s registration is considered cancelled.

The police tried to pass the blame to the transport department.

Police sources said the bus had 203 traffic rule violation cases pending against it. A preliminary inquiry by the police revealed that the front left tyre had burst and the bus fell on its left side, said officers. Many passengers jumped out of the bus but others, including women and at least one child, were trapped.

A youth who was on the bus recalled the sequence of events leading to the accident.

“I was standing just behind the driver’s seat. People were chatting and laughing. The driver had come a little late to pick us up. He appeared a little drunk, too. The bus was moving at a high speed.

As the vehicle approached a crosswalk at an intersection, the driver turned the steering wheel and the vehicle took a sharp turn. The bus lost balance and turned on its left side. I was among those who were standing on the right side of the bus. We jumped out through the windows.

[HotPlate101]

Ouch.

Cool how all the taxis look like they're from 1950s USA. I love old cars.

[kbt3168]

That free outside-rider took the whole load.

[nudibranches646]

Amazed no deaths with this, particularly Lord Vishnu and Sannvi riding on the door.

[William May]

Originally Posted by HotPlate101 ↗

Ouch.

Cool how all the taxis look like they're from 1950s USA. I love old cars.

Google the Hindustan cars after India's independence. They look like they just drove out of the 1930's. I wanted to get one sooooo bad.

But the owner wanted 43,000,000 rupees.

Then I found that that's about $4000 U.S.

Maybe someday I'll find another one.

[HYPRTCKR]

~ Bad front left wheel alignment, not set correctly, &/or bar not secured correctly. Another failed to use torque wrench DIY job.
~ Oh yeah, & the front left bald tire burst from overwear.