Kochi: The Kerala Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) has submitted an inquiry report to the high court regarding the April 17 accident at Valparai in Tamil Nadu that claimed the lives of 10 tourists. The report indicates that the driver’s improper driving techniques and lack of skill in navigating hilly terrain were likely the primary factors behind the mishap.
Key Findings of the Report
The report, prepared by Ajith Kumar K K, motor vehicle inspector attached to the RTO enforcement wing, Palakkad, categorically states that the driver had continuously applied the brakes during a prolonged descent instead of utilising engine braking. According to the report, this was likely to have resulted in brake fade, thereby reducing the vehicle’s stopping capacity, particularly while negotiating a bend in the road.
Driver's Experience and Terrain
The report further notes that the driver lacked adequate skill and experience in hill driving, having been predominantly accustomed to driving on flat terrain. The van, carrying a group of schoolteachers on an excursion from Pang in Malappuram district, reportedly veered off the 13th hairpin bend on the ghat road within the limits of the Kadamparai police station at around 5.15pm on April 17 and plunged several hundred feet into a steep gorge. Ten tourists, including six schoolteachers, were killed in the accident, while three others sustained serious injuries.
Infrastructure Concerns
The report also observed that the concrete retaining wall at the accident site was not of sufficient height to effectively prevent the vehicle from overturning.
Legal Proceedings
The report was submitted in compliance with an earlier order of the division bench comprising Justices Anil K Narendran and S Muralee Krishna in a suo motu case concerning unauthorised vehicle modifications and recurring accidents allegedly caused by such violations. On Tuesday, the high court adjourned the matter for further consideration and posted it to June 30.
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