NHRC Orders States to Remove Unsafe Sleeper Buses Following Fire Incidents, Ensuring Passenger Safety and Compliance

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken a serious step regarding the safety of sleeper coach buses. On Saturday, Priyank Kanungo, a member of the NHRC, directed all state chief secretaries to ensure that any buses failing to meet safety requirements are immediately removed from service. This decision follows alarming reports of passenger buses catching fire during trips, leading to unnecessary loss of life.

The NHRC highlighted that a key issue with these buses is their design. In many cases, the driver’s area is completely separated from the passenger section. This makes it hard for the driver to quickly notice and communicate about a fire, which can be critical in emergencies. The complaints included references to recent incidents where these safety flaws led to devastating results.

As a result of these findings, the NHRC believes that this situation violates the fundamental right to life as stated in Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. They are calling for urgent changes in safety designs, accountability measures, and compensation for those affected by such incidents. This is aimed at protecting passengers and preventing future tragedies.

In response to the situation, the NHRC has also instructed the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the Central Road Transport Institute to investigate these complaints. They are required to submit their action report within two weeks, outlining what steps will be taken to address these serious safety issues.

Moving forward, the Central Road Transport Institute has already started looking into these safety concerns. They discovered that several buses did not meet the safety standards set by the Central Motor Vehicles Rules. This report has been shared with the Rajasthan Transport Department, which will be crucial in making necessary improvements.