PORVORIM: Two persons died on the spot and 23 passengers sustained injuries when a bus and van were involved in a head-on collision at Kharaswada slope, on Tuesday morning around 8.10 am.
Mapusa police informed that a bus bearing registration number GA-07-T- 5142 was proceeding towards Mapusa from Patradevi, while the driver of the van bearing number GA-03-H-3786 was proceeding towards Kharaswada from Mapusa. However, he suddenly turned in the middle of the road to proceed towards Mapusa. The bus driver could not avoid the head-on collision due to which the van driver, Faizal Yasin Bepari (18), from Tivim, died on the spot. Impact was such that the Omni van broken into pieces and fell off the cliff along the slope. The cleaner of the bus Ramchandra Ankush Parab (35) from Torse-Pernem was thrown out due to the impact and died due to grievous injuries. Since the bus turned turtle around 24 passengers sustained injuries and were admitted to the District Hospital,Mapusa. Three passengers are stated to have grievous injuries. Vehicular traffic on the route was disrupted for few hours.
Upon receipt of the information Mapusa Police rushed to spot and arranged to shift the vehicles and cleared the blockade. Police Inspector Tushar Vernekar is investigating the case.
Later Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar visited the hospital and enquired about the health of the passengers.
While speaking to media-persons, Parsekar stated that the accident has taken place mainly because of rash and negligent driving by drivers. Every month around 6000 to 7000 new vehicles are registered in Goa. To add to this several tourists visit Goa with their vehicles. The government is trying its best to widen the roads wherever possible for the smooth flow of traffic. It is the duty of the vehicle owners to drive the vehicles carefully by observing traffic rules so that the number of accidents are reduced, Parsekar said.
