POONCH A vehicle that overturned Thursday resulting in the death of eleven students had been issued a fitness certificate despite operating without a route permit for nearly two years, pointing to lapses on part of traffic police and other
While an inquiry is going on, Tempo Traveller bearing Registration number JK12-3475 had been plying without ‘valid route permit’, local news agency GNS reported. Not only the vehicle was without ‘valid route permit’ for more than two years now but ironically had a fitness certificate issued on its registration number- which otherwise is issued only once route permit is granted, it said quoting sources.
When accessed, online records show that the mandatory route permit of the vehicle had expired on August 10, 2017, while the fitness certificate has been issued just 140 days (about 5 months) ago.
A team member that visited the accident spot also expressed dissatisfaction over the issuance of the ‘fitness certificate’ after gauging the overall condition of vehicle. A fitness certificate issued 140 days ago was found near the vehicle worn out , officials privy to investigation said.
However, when contacted ARTO Surankote Samrinder Singh Jamwal denied issuance of any certificate’ to the owner. While divulging the process to obtain the certificate, the official told GNS that “Once the route permit expires for any particular vehicle, the owner had to apply for renewal of the same within a period of 15 days. There is nothing on record to show how and when the vehicle obtained the certificate.”
Reiterating his stance the official said that, “although the procedure has been switched from manual to online but our records show nothing how the certificate was obtained.”
Meanwhile aghast over the disclosure of facts, the locals have demanded a thorough enquiry into the matter. “We demand a thorough probe, the locals said and demanded that all those involved into it should be brought to justice.”
Pertinent to mention here that a vehicle (tempo traveller) carrying students of a private computer learning centre travelling from Surankote to Dhobijan met an accident near Pir Ki Gali along the Mughal Road on Thursday which resulted in the death of 11 students, 9 of them girls, and injuries to 7 others of which two are still battling for life. (GNS)
11 slain students laid to rest amid tears and sobs
Admin bars picnic trips by schools, colleges sans permission
Amid sobs and tears, 11 students killed in a road mishap along Mughal road were buried in their respective ancestral graveyards on Thursday.
Reports said that a pall of gloom descended when bodies of the deceased students reached their respective villages.
Thousands of people from all walks of life thronged the residencies of the deceased students to attend the funeral prayers and to pay condolences to the bereaved families, reports said.
Expressing their agony over the accident, Beopar Mandal (traders’ body) led by Khush Dev Verma Surankote hoisted black flags in the town.
The business establishments and markets places by and large also experienced a dull affair throughout the day.
Pertinent to mention here that a vehicle (tempo traveller) carrying students of a private computer learning centre on a picnic trip from Surankote to Dhobijan (Sopore) met with an accident near Pir Ki Gali along the Mughal Road on Thursday which resulted in the death of 11 students, 9 of them girls, and injuries to 7 others of which two are still battling for life.
Meanwhile, a day after 11 students lost their lives in the tragic road mishap, district administration in Poonch on Friday directed all private and government institutions to seek prior permission from competent authority for any picnic henceforth.
“All the Government and recognised private schools upto higher secondary level are directed not to leave / go on excursion/Picnic unless and until granted the permission from the competent authority,” said Deputy Commissioner Poonch in an order.
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