Reams and reams have been written about encroachments on Kamarajar Salai, Ashok Nagar. But, nothing has been done till date and they have now claimed the life of a school boy.
At around 3.15 pm Wednesday (3 April), the 11-year-old boy, riding pillion on a two-wheeler was run over by an MTC bus in front of St Mathias Church. He was studying class V at a private school at Ashok Nagar.
According to the police, Jeevanandam (17), an employee of a medical shop, was taking his owner’s son Sai Suriya (11) to drop at a tuition class on Kamarajar Salai. When he took a left turn from 87th Street (near St Mathias Church), he hit the bumper of the MTC bus (17 D) coming from the opposite direction. Jeevanandam fell on the left and Sai Suriya on the right. The bus ran over the boy, killing him on the spot.
The police said Jeevanadam did not have a licence and it might be one of the reasons for the mishap. On the other hand, the MTC bus had come extremely toward right side of the road and ran over the boy.
Guindy traffic investigation police have registered a case under IPC Section 304 (A) (causing death due to negligence) against the bus driver and are investigating. “We are waiting for the report to know the real reason,” said the police in the locality.
Speaking to News Today, Sai Suriya’s father Lakshmipathy, who resides near Nagathamman Temple, said encroachments on the roadside led to the mishap as the motorists find it difficult to judge vehicles coming on the stretch. “Jeevanandam was having a learner’s licence. To avoid heavy traffic on the main road, he took 87th Street to enter Kamarajar Salai. The overspeeding MTC bus killed my son. There are around six schools on the stretch and MTC drivers should know about it. Reckless driving took away my son’s life. I have lodged a complaint against the MTC driver at Guindy traffic wing.”
When the News Today team took up the issue with a senior official at K K Nagar bus depot, he said, “There is a separate wing at our head office (Pallavan House) and they are looking into the incident.”
“We have been conducting road safety awareness to both public and our crew many times,” he said, and refused to talk more on the incident.
Residents, who frequently use Kamarajar Salai, blame encroachments for accidents. Construction materials are dumped on the pavements, a few put up shops on foothpaths and also vehicles are parked on both sides of the stretch leaving less space for others to drive. “There is an auto repair shop, where vehicles are parked on the road. This causes hindrance for others to drive. The police impose fine on them. Yet, they continue with their work,” said a shop owner on the stretch.