The accident involving a bus ferrying company workers has raised questions about the safety of such a transport system. It may be noted that four people lost their lives as the bus carrying 53 people collapsed at the exit of the Qantab road towards Al Bustan -Wadi al-Kabir road. Four others suffered critical injuries; seven people had moderate injuries, while 38 had light injuries. The Royal Hospital said it had activated the emergency plan to deal with the travellers injured in the bus accident in Qantab.
The hospital's emergency department received several patients with minor injuries who are currently receiving the necessary medical care and are in stable condition.
Speaking to the Observer, a cross-section of construction workers said they are generally transported from the worksite to camps in buses.
"Some small companies give little priority to the maintenance of these buses, and at times drivers are also rushed to make multiple trips in a short time as there are few buses in the fleet. What happened at Qantab road could be an exception as it is one of the most difficult roads due to steep slopes in both directions," said J Singh who travels daily on that road to the work site.
But a transport in-charge of a leading contracting company said, "Accidents can happen anytime without any specific reason and added that the loss of even a single worker would affect the company. Transport buses are always serviced from time to time, and such accidents are isolated and not something waiting to happen."
@vinot_nair
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