Woman, 60, seriously hurt as bus wheel runs over both legs at Dapoli ST station

A 60-year-old woman was seriously injured at the Dapoli ST station in Ratnagiri district on the evening of Thursday, November 5, when the front wheel of a bus ran over both her legs. The bus, on the Kolbandre route, was entering the station when the accident happened. Panic broke out in the station premises afterwards, and people showed anger.

According to preliminary information, the injured woman is Fatima Amid Jogilkar, 60, a resident of Khed. She was in the Dapoli ST station premises on Thursday evening when the Kolbandre route bus was entering the station. As it came in, its front wheel went over both her legs, causing serious injuries to both.

People in the station premises rushed to the spot as soon as the accident happened and gave the injured woman immediate help. She was then admitted to the sub-district hospital in Dapoli for treatment, where she is currently being treated.

Dapoli ST station sees a sizeable crowd of passengers. People expressed strong anger that a woman was run over by a bus wheel in such a crowded place. For some time after the accident, there was disorder in the station.

The incident has once again raised the question of passenger safety at ST stations. People are asking whether drivers take enough care when buses enter and leave the station, whether there are safe walking paths for passengers, and whether the necessary arrangements have been made to prevent accidents.

The exact cause of the accident is not yet clear. People are demanding that the department concerned investigate the incident, review safety arrangements at the station and take firm steps to prevent such accidents in future.

Thousands of passengers pass through ST stations every day, including the elderly, women, small children and passengers with disabilities. It is therefore being said that bus movement inside a station and pedestrians must be properly coordinated. It is considered important that drivers keep their speed under control when entering, make sure no pedestrian is in the way, and that a safe path exists for passengers. Traffic-control staff, information boards and safety arrangements at key points are also said to be necessary.

Demands are being raised for an inquiry into whether Dapoli station has separate paths for buses to enter and leave, whether passengers get safe walking space, whether CCTV cameras are working, and whether enough staff are deployed during rush hours. No official information has so far emerged about the exact cause of the accident, the driver's role or any action taken by the ST administration. People are now watching closely for the outcome of the inquiry.