Road accidents or coalition of failures?
The recent high profile accidents leading to the fatality of Cyrus Mistry and the four who died in the Zuari has been quickly highlighted by officials as bad driving by over speeding and wrong side over taking.
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While I am in complete agreement, may I say that there are a few more reasons that need to be considered leading to the Swiss Cheese Model of disasters.
Poor road design, a slow lane should never end when the 3-lane becomes 2, rather the fast lane should end as it is easier for faster vehicles to change lanes. And the end isn’t abrupt but gradual. It is not a parking for trains to suddenly end.
It is as common of drivers in India to overtake on right as on the left, an illegality which no traffic controller is bothered. In fact the right lanes traffic with trucks moves slower than left lane traffic.
The junction of the Zuari Bridge from where the brake marks started is very deep and may have resulted in locking of brakes and steering as the vehicle appeared to be in the correct side of the road.
The vehicle in former accident has been previously caught on camera with law breaking. Were this to be taken to its logical legal conclusion by police and courts it may have prevented deaths.
It is only divine providence that we do not have more fatalities.
Joaquim K Barbosa, Calangute
Accident prone Chimbel junction
In an accident that took place at the dreaded Chimbel junction on Friday, a 59-year-old man, a resident of Chimbel, who was returning home on his bicycle and was crossing the bypass road, was reportedly fatally knocked down by a Kadamba bus which was traveling towards Old Goa. The busy Chimbel junction along the Panjim-Old Goa bypass road has turned into a death trap for unsuspecting motorists. The vehicular traffic coming out of the Chimbel road needs to be overcautious.
It may be recalled that in the past, several accidents have taken place on the road probably due to wrong road geometry. In the month of May this year, a 72-year-old man was knocked down and killed by a truck at this dangerous junction. After the accident about hundred citizens gathered at the spot and blocked the road in protest of the death of the elderly person.
The Old Goa bypass road was constructed in 2004 and expanded in 2014. There is a total traffic chaos at the junction as there is a heavy flow of vehicles which poses danger to the road users as well as the residents of the locality who have to cross the road here. Poor road engineering could be one of the reasons for the frequent occurrence of accidents at this junction.
The authorities concerned need to take all necessary steps in order to see that the accident-prone spot is made safe for the citizens.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Democracy, a total failure in Goa
Politicians generally don’t have a good reputation (barring some few good ones) and India has worsened under the current regime on Global Democratic rankings in recent years. However, as compared to the latter, I think Goan politicians/democracy will be easily the worst and most sickening in the democratic world.
Take some of the pathetic excuses of the latest eight defectors who have insulted the people’s mandate i.e. (1) Falsely using God. (2) One has to be part of the ruling party for development; which if true is an actual saying that democracy is a total failure in Goa.
Why do we then have elections and also elect opposition to keep the government in check? Can the opposition really not unite and not ensure development happens in their area like what happens in many proper democracies in the world? Or is the real reason that the defectors want to expedite sale/destruction of Goa to maximise their personal/family wealth by being in the ruling government, which will clearly allow them to do so?
The current ruling party, I believe, is organising quite a few trainings for the current MLAs. Can they educate the MLAs on the need for a strong opposition and how opposition MLAs can also develop their constituencies? What is the purpose of these training sessions if not to strengthen democracy?
Is the real reason for this sickening state of democratic affairs in Goa because of the now total decay of Goan Society, which boasts of being highly religious in our churches, temples and mosques.
I would like to suggest that each Goan reflects on the same.
Arwin Mesquita, Colva
Rahul Gandhi and Congress president
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expecting the party’s Udaipur resolve on one-man-one-post to be followed, sounds the death knell for Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s ‘two-post’ theory. Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi had also conveyed her displeasure to Gehlot for his two-post theory when they met on Wednesday.
The development made Gehlot flip-flop and remark that there was no precedent of a Congress president holding the CM’s post simultaneously. Could this pave the way for Sachin Pilot’s coronation as Rajasthan’s CM?
N J Ravi Chander, Bengaluru
Harthals, for what?
The public in Kerala had to face a lot of problems during the one day hartal called by a faction which called for hartal protesting against the raid and arrests made by the NIA over the radical outfit’s alleged involvement in terror-related activities including involvement in funding terrorism and terrorist activities, organising training camps and radicalising people to join banned organisations.
The common man faced bitter experiences at many places as buses and vehicles were blocked and shops closed by the protestors. Many KSRTC buses were damaged and commuters hurt at many places as protestors pelted stones.
The pain, anxiety and anguish felt by the common man as a result of such unwanted protests and hindrances done, blocking the day today life of the citizen can never be understood by those stupefied due to political power and radical influence. Complete chaos and disruptions lead to so much of problems and confusions in public life.
Rather than getting the support of the common man through harthals it is only fear, hatred and animosity that they can expect from the public.
M Pradyu, Kannur
China’s abuses to be punished
The United Nations will be judged by how it addresses China’s persecution of ethnic minorities, diplomats and human rights calling for forceful action after the call for crimes against humanity. For years, rights watchdogs and journalists have exposed brutal treatment of Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim ethnic groups in the far western region of the world. There were no answers to thousands of killings of innocent pandits and local population in Kashmir by Pakistan manufactured, sponsored, and exported terrorists.
When you first research the true facts on Kashmir killings before harping lies and distorting true facts, do not become a part of propaganda machinery. Indian army is only killing terrorists risking the life of innocents, and undermining the security of the country. China will go scot-free for the UN has become toothless.
Krishnan Ramani, Calicut
