Delivery worker fatally knocked down by private bus at Kalamassery in Kerala

A delivery man working for an online aggregator died after his motorcycle was knocked down by a private bus near the South Kalamassery flyover in Kochi, Kerala around 9.30 a.m. on Monday. The deceased was identified as Abdul Salam, 41, of Kodungalloor.

Reportedly, he was on duty and was on his way to pick up a delivery for the online aggregator in the Aluva direction when his motorcycle was knocked down by the private bus headed in the same direction. Though he was rushed to Government Medical College, Kalamassery, he succumbed to his injuries.

The Kalamassery police have registered a case.

On July 26, another speeding private bus had claimed the life of an 18-year-old graduation student near Ernakulam Town Hall. He was fatally knocked down by the bus from behind while trying to overtake a car. The Ernakulam Town North police booked the driver on non-bailable charges of culpable homicide amounting to murder and secured his remand.

Since then, the Kerala State Human Rights Commission registered a suo motu case based on media reports of that accident. Commission chairperson Alexander Thomas has directed the Ernakulam District Collector to convene a meeting of the District Police Chief (Kochi City), Regional Transport Officer (RTO), head of the Road Safety Authority, and the Corporation secretary to take immediate measures to check speeding and reckless operation of private buses in Kochi city.

The Collector has been directed to inform the commission within four weeks about the measures taken based on the meeting.

The commission also asked the District Police Chief (Kochi City) to probe the reasons leading to the death of the student, Govind N. Shenoy, of T.D. Road.

The District Police Chief should also submit within four weeks details about the traffic violations, including speeding and accidents caused by the said bus, details of the cases registered, and steps taken to prevent such accidents and violations of laws. The RTO should also submit a separate report.

Mr. Thomas ordered that the Revenue Divisional Officer representing the District Collector and representatives of RTO, and the District Police Chief should inform the commission about the steps taken by appearing in person at the sitting to be held at the PWD guesthouse on September 10.