Noiseless e-buses blamed for fatal accidents in Bengaluru: Report
Bengaluru: The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has been linked to four fatal accidents involving its buses over the past month.
According to report published by The New Indian Express on Saturday, one of the main contributing factors to these accidents is the use of electric buses, which are noted for their sudden acceleration and harsh braking systems.
Sources quoted in the report pointed out that the drivers of these buses are not appointed by BMTC, but by companies that operate those buses on Gross Cost Contract (GCC).
Nataraj Sharma, president of the Federation of Karnataka Private Transport Associations, which represents private buses, cabs, and autos, highlighted that drivers recruited directly by BMTC have to undergo rigorous tests. “But electric buses are operated by drivers who are hired by private companies. These drivers, who were operating light motor vehicles earlier, are given such big electric buses, leading to accidents,” Sharma alleged.
Another reason for the accidents is the near-noiseless movement of these buses, which makes it difficult for both vehicle users and pedestrians to detect them by sound.
After repeated complaints about the sudden acceleration and harsh braking of electric buses—problems that have led to injuries for both passengers and other road users—BMTC conducted driver workshops earlier this year. However, it appears that the workshops have not been effective in preventing such incidents, added the report.
BMTC’s Chief Traffic Manager (Operations), GT Prabhakar Reddy, defended the corporation, stating that of the four fatalities, three were not caused by the fault of BMTC drivers.
“Every time an accident happens, we analyse footage from all the CCTV cameras fitted in our buses and take action against drivers if they are at fault. But in the three cases, they were not,” TNIE quoted Reddy as saying. He also expressed frustration over BMTC drivers being blamed even when they are not at fault, adding that if everyone followed traffic rules, accidents could be prevented.
In an effort to reduce accidents, BMTC plans to conduct "refresher training" for its 12,000 drivers. The training will focus on three key areas: accident prevention, adherence to traffic rules, and stress management.
“We will play videos on how to avoid accidents. When we train drivers by showing them videos, they understand better. We have enough videos recorded by dash cams of BMTC buses, where our drivers have prevented accidents,” Reddy explained. The training will be conducted in batches of 50 drivers across seven BMTC zonal offices.
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Pak police registers case against unidentified gunmen for opening fire on LeT co-founder
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Lahore (PTI): Pakistan's Punjab Police on Friday registered a case against unidentified gunmen for opening fire on Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) co-founder Amir Hamza, who suffered bullet injuries in the attack in Lahore.
On Thursday, two unidentified gunmen riding on a bike opened fire on the vehicle of the private TV channel 24NewsHD TV, owned by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, on Peco Road in Lahore near the TV channel's office.
In the attack, Hamza suffered bullet injuries.
"The FIR has been registered against unidentified gunmen, but it is sealed forthwith," a senior police officer told PTI.
He said the intelligence agencies have taken over this case from the police, and they are currently investigating the matter.
The channel's religious programme host Justice (retd.) Nazir Ahmed Ghazi and Hamza were in the vehicle when it was attacked. Hamza was shifted to a hospital for treatment.
Punjab police on Friday said that "upon receiving information about the incident, the SSP Operations immediately reached the scene and a high alert was imposed in the area. SSP Operations Tauqeer Naeem also met the affected individuals. Thankfully, all present in the vehicle remained safe during the firing."
It further said senior police officers of the Township and Chung, along with a heavy police contingent, were present at the scene.
"Police collected evidence from the site and initiated an investigation. Efforts to arrest the suspects are underway using CCTV footage and geo-fencing techniques. Search and sweep operations are being conducted at various locations, with scrutiny of suspicious individuals ongoing," police said.
It added that those involved in the incident will be traced and arrested soon.
The police sources said that Hamza has been shifted to his residence in Jauhar Town, Lahore, where police and agency personnel met him.
The leadership of the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML), a political front of Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed's banned Jamat-ud-Dawah (JuD), including Hafiz Saeed's son Hafiz Talha Saeed, also called on him.
TV host retired Justice Ghazi, who remained unhurt in the attack, remained a legal counsel for Hafiz Saeed, they said.
The PMML has strongly condemned the attack on Hamza and demanded that those involved in the incident be arrested immediately.
Hamza is regarded as LeT's second most important leader after its chief Hafiz Saeed, who has been in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat Jail since 2019 after getting convicted for several years in terror financing cases.
Hamza has been designated as a terrorist by the US. In the past, he served as the head of LeT's "special campaigns" department.
In 2018, Hamza formed a fundraising group for the LeT following a ban on the JuD and Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation by the Pakistani government.
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