A day after the tragic bus accident that claimed six lives in Angul, the district administration on Wednesday held rash driving and overloading responsible for the mishap.
Based on the report of a three-member probe committee formed by the administration, Angul Collector Anil Samal also made the carelessness of the motorcyclist, who was also killed after being hit by the bus, as another cause of the accident.
He said the vehicle carried 69 passengers against the prescribed capacity of 46.
Meanwhile, the Transport Department mulled some new guidelines to check the rising number of accidents.
“The department has decided to make it mandatory that every bus mentions its seating and standing capacity. The Government will launch a toll-free number soon through which any passenger can lodge complaint of overloading. The toll-free number will be written in all buses,” said Transport Minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi.
The Minister added that steps would be taken to identify the accident-prone areas, for which the department would soon convene a meeting with the NHAI and the Works Department.