"The overturned Azad University bus did not have a technical inspection certificate"
The number of victims of the overturned bus of the Azad University of Science and Research has increased. The CEO of the Tehran Municipality's Technical Inspection Headquarters announced that the bus did not have a technical inspection certificate.
The accident in which a bus carrying students from the University of Science and Research overturned has received widespread coverage in the media and social networks the day after it occurred. A number of officials, including Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, have also reacted to the deadly incident.
On Tuesday, January 24, at 12:20 PM local time, a bus carrying students overturned after hitting a utility pole on the campus of the University of Science and Communication, killing 10 students.
Cause of the accident
After the news of the overturning of a bus carrying students from Azad University was published, speculations were raised in some media outlets about the cause of the accident. Among other things, it was said that the bus driver had suffered a heart attack or stroke.
The Mizan News Agency, quoting Judge Shahriari, Deputy Prosecutor of Tehran, denied the news about the bus driver's stroke.
Regarding the possibility of a stroke for the driver of the bus carrying students, Judge Shahriari said: "According to the autopsy that was conducted today in the presence of forensic doctors at the Kahrizak forensic medical center, no signs indicating a heart attack or stroke were found in the bus driver, although heart and brain samples were sent to the laboratory for pathology testing."
Journalist Ali Malihi, quoting Ebrahim Amini, a member of the Tehran City Council, attributed the bus's overturning to its wear and tear. It was said that the worn-out bus was rented from the Islamshahr municipality.
The Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) also reported, citing the CEO of Tehran Municipality's Technical Inspection Headquarters, that the bus from the Azad University of Science and Research Branch that was involved in the accident did not have a technical inspection certificate. In an interview with ISNA, Navab Hosseini Manesh said: "This bus had reached the age of wear and tear, and despite the problems that exist in fleet renewal and despite the fact that 16 years had passed since its production, unfortunately it did not have a technical inspection."
Case tracking
After the fatal accident in which a bus carrying students overturned, news broke that nine students had been killed. Now, it is being said that one of the other injured in the accident has also died in the hospital.
Peyman Sabrian, head of Tehran's emergency center, said in an interview with the "Pouya Journalists' Club" reporter: "Seven people died at the scene and three in the hospital in this incident."
It is worth noting that the injured in this incident were transferred to Erfan, Niayesh, Khomeini, and Shariati hospitals after initial measures were taken by emergency technicians.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani also sent a message of condolences and called for a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident.
Rouhani's condolence message states, among other things: "It is essential that the authorities, while closely investigating the cause of this accident, prepare and implement all necessary measures to prevent such incidents from recurring, and that the necessary medical and therapeutic care be given to the injured for their speedy recovery."
Meanwhile, Amoli Larijani, the head of the judiciary, has also issued a message of condolences to the Attorney General, calling for the necessary supervision and prompt handling of the incident.
Tehran prosecutors are said to have arrested two people (a transportation contractor and a university facilities official) in connection with the fatal bus overturning incident, and two other university officials have also been summoned.
Death of Hashemi Shahroudi and public mourning
The simultaneous occurrence of the fatal accident of a bus carrying students overturning and the death of Ayatollah Shahroudi was one of the issues that was widely reflected on social media.
Many social media users and activists have criticized the government's decision to hold a public mourning ceremony on the occasion of Hashemi Shahroudi's death.
Some social media activists have called for a public mourning period for the victims of the incident. One user, publishing the names of the students who died in the university incident, wrote: "The government has declared a public mourning period, but not for these beautiful names, but for the person who signed a death sentence as many hairs as he has."
Political activist Hassan Asadi Zeidabadi also wrote on Twitter: "The government delegation has immediately convened a meeting to declare tomorrow a day of public mourning on the occasion of Hashemi Shahroudi's death. What a shame that Iran is grieving the unjust death of 9 students from the University of Research Sciences."
Mohammad Mehdi Tondgoyan, who was himself a former student of the university, wrote on Twitter: "It is our duty to offer condolences and sympathy to the grieving families, but there must come a day when the university and schools will not witness these tragedies. I wish we could declare a public mourning out of respect for the students."
He is referring to the students who lost their lives in a school fire in Zahedan a few days ago.
Source: DW
