Sri Vijaya Puram, July 12: Hon’ble Member of Parliament for Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray, has written to the Hon’ble Lt. Governor seeking immediate medical and financial assistance for the victims of the recent State Transport Service (STS) bus accidents and has urged the Administration to formulate a comprehensive STS Passenger Accident Relief, Medical Assistance and Safety Policy.
In his letter, the MP referred to two recent STS bus accidents that occurred within a short span of time. The first accident took place near Rangat on 30 June 2026, in which several passengers sustained injuries. Some of the injured were referred to G.B. Pant Hospital, Sri Vijayapuram, for advanced treatment. One of the seriously injured passengers, Shri Prakash Roy (59 years), reportedly suffered a severe hip injury and has been advised specialised treatment at a mainland hospital.
The second accident occurred near Kishorinagar, North Andaman, on 9 July 2026, in which several passengers, including school children, were injured. The MP noted that similar accidents have occurred in the past and stressed the need for a permanent mechanism to assist accident victims.
Shri Bishnu Pada Ray stated that since STS is a government-operated public transport service, the Administration has a moral and institutional responsibility to ensure timely medical treatment and financial support to affected passengers. He also referred to representations received from the Hindu Rashtra Shakti (HRS) highlighting the hardships faced by the victims due to the absence of a structured system for medical treatment, evacuation and rehabilitation.
The MP has requested the Lt. Governor to provide complete cashless medical treatment to all injured passengers, including medicines, surgeries, diagnostic tests, implants, physiotherapy and rehabilitation. He has also urged the Administration to bear the expenses of ambulance services, air travel, medical evacuation, one attendant and follow-up treatment wherever referral to mainland hospitals is required.
He has specifically requested that immediate arrangements be made for the medical assessment and mainland treatment of Shri Prakash Roy at Government expense, if recommended by doctors.
Shri Bishnu Pada Ray has further sought immediate ex gratia assistance for the victims, proposing ₹2 lakh for each grievously injured passenger and ₹50,000 for those requiring hospitalisation or prolonged treatment, with higher assistance in cases involving permanent disability or mainland referral.
The MP has also suggested the appointment of a senior officer of the Transport Department as a Nodal Officer to coordinate medical treatment, evacuation, financial assistance and support to the affected families.
To prevent future accidents, he has called for an immediate safety audit of all STS buses covering vehicle fitness, brakes, tyres, steering systems, emergency exits, GPS, fire safety equipment and maintenance records. He has also recommended a review of drivers’ medical fitness, duty hours, training and accident records, along with corrective measures on accident-prone roads.
Shri Bishnu Pada Ray has urged the Administration to formulate a permanent STS Passenger Accident Relief, Medical Assistance and Safety Policy, which should provide for automatic ex gratia assistance, cashless treatment, passenger accident insurance, a dedicated Passenger Accident Relief Fund, medical evacuation protocols, a single-window Passenger Response Cell, independent investigation of major accidents, periodic safety audits and fixed timelines for treatment and financial assistance.
The MP observed that in most States and Union Territories, governments immediately announce ex gratia assistance and deputed Ministers or senior officials visit accident victims and bereaved families to provide support. However, he expressed concern that in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, the response is generally limited to registering criminal cases and initiating departmental proceedings, while no institutional mechanism exists for immediate humanitarian assistance.
He has, therefore, suggested that the Administration formulate a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for responding to major road accidents. The SOP should provide for immediate visits by senior officers to the affected families, prompt ex gratia assistance, emergency medical support, counselling, rehabilitation and effective coordination among all concerned departments.
The MP expressed confidence that such a policy would provide timely relief to accident victims, strengthen passenger safety and restore public confidence in the State Transport Service.