In a decisive move following several deadly fires in sleeper coach buses, India's National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued urgent directives to all state chief secretaries, demanding immediate safety overhauls across the country.
Immediate Safety Measures Ordered
The commission has called for the recall of all buses violating mandatory safety standards and their immediate rectification. Key requirements include the removal of partitions separating drivers from passenger compartments, installation of fire detection and suppression systems (FDSS), and stricter verification of accreditation and certification for bus body manufacturers.
Describing the widespread flouting of motor vehicle regulations and automotive standards as "criminal negligence," the rights body has instructed state governments to identify and hold accountable officials whose oversight failures have jeopardized passenger safety.
Trigger: Jaisalmer-Jodhpur Highway Tragedy
The NHRC's intervention comes after reviewing an action taken report from the Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT) concerning the October 14 bus fire on the Jaisalmer-Jodhpur highway that claimed 20 lives and left 16 others injured.
CIRT's investigation revealed critical safety violations in bus body construction that breached both Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR) and Automotive Industry Standards (AIS) for sleeper coaches. The deficiencies identified included problematic driver partition doors, insufficient emergency exits, and complete absence of fire detection and suppression systems.
Systemic Failures and Accountability
The commission expressed grave concern over how the ill-fated bus, built in clear violation of safety norms, was ever permitted to operate. "This reflects serious systemic lapses not only on the bus manufacturer/body builder but also on part of transport department officials," the NHRC stated.
Emphasizing that the tragedy was entirely preventable, the commission noted that proper enforcement of existing safety standards could have averted the disaster. States have been given two weeks to submit compliance reports detailing actions taken to address these critical safety gaps.
CIRT has recommended comprehensive measures including recalling all sleeper coaches, immediate removal of driver partition doors, installation of FDSS within one month, verification of fire extinguishers, and taking all extended chassis buses off the roads until compliance is ensured.
