Bus firms will face tougher measures following bus inferno
The state-owned Transport Co, which operates the intercity bus service, will "get tougher" on all bus companies and will give Bt10,000 initial assistance money to each of the victims' families, a senior official said Wednesday.
The managing director of Transport Co, Wuttichat Kanlayanamit said he would call in executives of Sri Sanguan Yangont Co, to explain the details of the accident and have the company temporarily suspended from service, pending an investigation into the company's history and checkups on its entire fleet of buses. Wuttichat said the cause of accident was "engine problems" despite the Land Transport Department's and the company's regulations to have buses undergo a thorough engine and vehicle body checkup every seven years for a permit renewal. Each bus is also required to have emergency tools and have two drivers for distances over 500 kilometres. He said the company will now have staff inform passengers about the emergency tools and safety procedures prior to travel. The company will also have very bus checked before providing services to travellers during the Songkran Festival. A bangkok-bound bus caught fire on Tuesday in Saraburi province, burning to death 30 passengers and injuring 31 others. Most of the victims were burnt beyond recognition. The Nation
|
