MTC bus gutted at Adyar depot

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, JULY 18. In a major fire following a loud explosion at the Adyar bus depot, a bus running on route 21-H (H-355) was gutted and another bus stationed nearby was partially burnt at 1- 30 p.m. today.

Eyewitnesses said after hearing a loud noise ``like an exploding gas cylinder'' they saw the bus catching fire as diesel streamed out.

Senior mechanic, Mr. Selvaraj, was beneath the bus attending to gear slip repairs when the blast occurred. The driver, Mr. Swaminathan, who was near the bus, dragged Selvaraj out and was rushed to the Royapettah GH where he was treated as an out- patient.

Water from a tanker in the depot was used to douse the fire and two fire tenders were also pressed into service. It was put out after half an hour, Fire Control officials said.

Mr. Swaminathan said immediately following the explosion, drivers, conductors and staff in the depot gathered and covered the flowing diesel with mud.

Mr. Swaran Singh, Managing Director, MTC commending the presence of mind of the staff said, ``Right from the Branch Manager, Mr. M. Rajasekaran, to the women conservancy staff, all threw mud on the flowing diesel. With a diesel storage tank situated 30 feet away, the depot floor full of grease and the bus with deflated tyres moving forward only to hit against an iron mesh around an electric transformer, timely action of all the personnel saved the whole depot from fire''. The drivers and engineers acted swiftly to remove seven buses parked nearby, he said.

A medical check was done for both the crew and the mechanic at a private hospital in Adyar. The Transport Minister, Mr. Nainaar Nagendran, visited the depot.

Utilising the opportunity to vent their ire on the shortage of supplies, drivers complained of acute shortage of spare parts supplies. ``When we operate the first gear, it slips to the third and we are told to run buses without proper gear or horn assembly'', a driver said stating that the fire could have occurred due to short circuited wire connectors which were not properly taped.

Some MTC officials suspecting sabotage, countered the criticism pointing out that it was not so easy for the diesel tank to catch fire. A senior official said, ``This is a rather strange case and hence forensic experts were at the spot to study the accident. They will submit a report in two days' time''.

On the actual cause for the accident, the Managing Director said the police have been asked to investigate the case.

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