TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: The driver, of the ill fated Goa-Mumbai bus, which plunged into the dry part of the river bed at Khed Wednesday, besides being charged with rash and negligent driving and endangering the safety of passengers, has now been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder, even as one more body of a victim from Goa was identified on Wednesday.
The body of yet another Goan ~ Maria Gobert ~ was identified, taking the toll of Goans who perished in the fateful accident to 13. The body of Gobert, who hails from Saligao wasn’t identified till late Tuesday evening.
The Goa Police team which is still camping in Khed, has confirmed that the last body has been identified and that the body is being escorted to Goa.
Meanwhile, the three survivors who were shifted to Walawalkar Hospital in Sawarde, Chiplun more than 60 kms from the accident site have now been referred to hospitals in Goa.
While Shivram Garudi was shifted to MPT Hospital, Antonette Mendes and Gaurish Parsekar have been shifted to Goa Medical College Hospital for further treatment.
The injured passengers who received serious injuries, including multiple rib fractures and other broken bones are not critical.
The driver who has been remanded to two days police custody, has been slapped with sections 279 (rash driving), 337 (Causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 338 (causing grievous hurt) besides the earlier invoked section 304 of the IPC and Section 184 of Motor Vehicle Act.
Police investigations disclosed that the driver was nearing the end of his shift and was supposed to end his shift at the next stop and was probably the reason for his rash driving.
Speaking to Herald, Transport Director Arun Dessai said that while they were awaiting the panchanama report, though it appeared to be a case of rash and negligent driving.
“Prima facie it appears that he lost control of the vehicle. We are awaiting a police panchanama report,” Dessai told Herald.
Other bodies of victims were shifted to Goa Tuesday itself.
