The ransacking of an Ama Bus after a road accident in Bhubaneswar on Friday has sparked serious questions over the deliberate targeting of public transport vehicles. According to reports and CCTV footage, the incident occurred when a bike rider entered from the wrong side, lost control, and collided with the bus.
Despite evidence indicating that the Ama Bus was not responsible for the accident, the vehicle was subjected to severe vandalism. At the time, the bus was carrying passengers, whose lives were allegedly put at risk as a group of youths pelted stones and created panic at the scene.
The incident has raised concerns over a growing trend where Ama Buses are allegedly being attacked even in cases where they are not at fault. Questions are being asked about the identity and motives of the miscreants and whether the violence was unleashed under the pretext of an accident.
Ama Bus drivers have expressed serious concern over their safety and the repeated targeting of buses. A formal complaint regarding the incident has been lodged at the Capital Police Station. Meanwhile, the Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) has appealed to residents of the Twin City to cooperate with authorities to ensure safe and uninterrupted public transport services.
Commenting on the issue, Ama Bus driver Rajendra Sethi said reckless driving by two-wheeler riders and auto-rickshaw drivers is a major factor behind rising road accidents. He stressed that sudden swerving and lack of control on roads often lead to dangerous situations, unfairly placing blame on public transport drivers.
