Overturned Bus at Azad University Had No Technical Inspection Certificate

The number of victims from the overturning of a bus belonging to Azad University’s Science and Research branch has increased. The CEO of Tehran Municipality’s Technical Inspection Headquarters announced that the bus did not have a technical inspection certificate.

The incident of the bus carrying students from the Science and Research University overturning received widespread coverage in media and social networks the day after it occurred. Several officials, including Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, reacted to this fatal accident.

On Tuesday, December 4th at 12:20 PM local time, the bus carrying students overturned within the campus of the Science and Communication University after colliding with a utility pole, resulting in the death of 10 students.

Cause of the Incident

Following the news of the bus overturning, speculation about the cause of the accident appeared in some media outlets. It had been suggested that the cause was a heart attack or stroke of the bus driver.

The “Mizan” news agency, citing Qazi Shahryari, Deputy Prosecutor of Tehran, denied the report about the bus driver’s stroke.

Regarding the possibility of a stroke, Qazi Shahryari stated: “According to the autopsy performed today with the presence of forensic doctors at the Kahrizak Forensic Medicine Center, no signs indicating a heart attack or stroke of the bus driver were found, although samples of the heart and brain were sent to the laboratory for pathology testing.”

Ali Malihi, a journalist, citing Ibrahim Amini, a member of Tehran City Council, attributed the overturning to the bus’s deterioration. It was stated that this worn-out bus was rented from Islamshahr Municipality.

The Iran Students News Agency (ISNA) also reported that according to the CEO of Tehran Municipality’s Technical Inspection Headquarters, the bus involved in the Azad University Science and Research branch accident did not have a technical inspection certificate. Navab Hosseini Manesh told ISNA: “This bus had reached the age of deterioration, and despite the problems in fleet renewal and despite 16 years having passed since its manufacture, unfortunately it did not have a technical inspection.”

Case Follow-up

Following the fatal accident, initially reports indicated the death of 9 students. Now it is said that one of the other injured in this accident also lost their life in the hospital.

Peiman Saberian, head of Tehran Emergency Center, told a reporter from the “Active Journalists Club”: “In this accident, seven people died at the scene and three died in the hospital.”

It should be recalled that the injured from this accident were transferred to Erfan, Niyayesh, Khomeini, and Shariati hospitals following initial emergency treatment.

Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, also sent a condolence message calling for investigation and careful examination of the cause of this disaster.

Rouhani’s condolence message included: “It is necessary for the officials responsible, while carefully investigating the cause of this disaster, to prepare and implement all necessary solutions to prevent the recurrence of such accidents, and medical and treatment care for the faster recovery of the victims should be given due attention.”

Meanwhile, Amoli Larijani, the head of the Judiciary, also sent a condolence message calling on the Prosecutor General of the country to oversee and promptly investigate this case.

It is reported that the Tehran Prosecutor has so far arrested two people (a transportation contractor and one of the university’s facility officials) in connection with the fatal bus accident. Furthermore, two other university officials have been summoned.

Death of Hashemi Shahrudi and Public Mourning

The coincidence of the fatal bus accident with the death of Ayatollah Shahrudi was among the issues that received widespread coverage on social networks.

Many social network users and activists criticized the government’s decision to hold public mourning for Hashemi Shahrudi’s death.

Some activists called for public mourning for the victims of this accident. One user, by publishing the names of students who died in the university accident, wrote: “The cabinet announced public mourning, but not for these beautiful names, but for someone who signed execution orders as numerous as the hairs on his head.”

Hasan Asadi Zidabadi, a political activist, also wrote on his Twitter: “The cabinet immediately held a session to declare tomorrow public mourning for Hashemi Shahrudi’s death. What a pity that Iran is mourning the tragic death of 9 students from the Science and Research University.”

Mohammad Mahdi Tandgoyan, who himself was a former student of this university, also wrote on his Twitter: “Offering condolences to the bereaved families and sympathizing is our duty, but there must come a day when universities and schools witness no such tragedies. If only we could declare public mourning in honor of students and pupils.”

His reference was to students who lost their lives a few days earlier in a school fire in Zahedan.

Source: DW