Kin want Ramya Act to tame drunk drivers
Distraught over the death of three persons from three generations within three weeks, the kin of Banjara Hills accident victims demanded the state government to bring in ‘Ramya Act’, on the lines of Nirbhaya Act, to impose stringent punishment and deter drunk drivers from taking to the roads.
Hyderabad: Distraught over the death of three persons from three generations within three weeks, the kin of Banjara Hills accident victims demanded the state government to bring in ‘Ramya Act’, on the lines of Nirbhaya Act, to impose stringent punishment and deter drunk drivers from taking to the roads.
On Monday, the death toll in the horrifying road accident that took place at Banjara Hills rose to three with nine-year-old Ramya’s grandfather P Madhusudana Chary, who has been undergoing treatment at Yashoda Hospitals, breathing his last at 5.25 am on Monday.
Highlights:
- Death toll in horrific Banjara Hills accident rises to 3
- Ramya’s grandfather dies during treatment at Yashoda hospital
- Kin demand govt job for one family member
He suffered multiple fractures to spine, lung and face, was undergoing treatment at Yashoda hospital for the past 18 days. Chary, 68, was in the car that met with the road accident on July 1. The car he was travelling along with four of his family members was crushed by another car that was heading in opposite direction at Road No. 3 in Banjara Hills.
Relatives, who are aghast at the tragedy that struck Ramya, her uncle and grandfather Madhusudana Chary, a retired government employee, staged a eight-hour sit-in at the hospital demanding the state government to immediately pass a legislation that would deter people from drunken driving.
“The government has to wake up now and decide what kind of development they are planning. Bangaru Telangana will not be possible if such incidents take place where under-aged drunken persons are allowed to drive cars and kill people,” said IT Engineer P Venkataramana, who lost his father, daughter and younger brother in the road accident.
Chary’s younger son Rajesh died on the spot, while his nine-year-old granddaughter Ramya died on July 9 after being in coma since the accident. Ramya’s mother Radhika and her uncle Ramesh are still undergoing treatment.
The police had earlier arrested R Shraveel (20), an engineering student from city, who drove the car under the influence of alcohol. Shraveel, along with five others in the car, was heading towards Punjagutta after consuming alcohol at a bar at Cinemax. The speeding car flew into air after hitting the road divider and fell on the car coming in opposite direction.
“Those six persons have driven the car recklessly on the roads. They were not conscious and they came on to the roads drunk. They are rich and they are roaming free. They have to be executed on the road,” said Venkataramana.
In reply to a query, he said, “My wife has not recovered yet. My brother got his backbone fractured. None of the family members of those six persons or anyone from the government have responded. We expect the government to at least respond to our pleas and want NIMS to be held responsible for delaying treatment to my daughter and father.”
Speaking to media, Ramesh alleged, “Everyone is in our support, but unfortunately the government is not bothered to take care of us.”
Mild tension prevailed at Yashoda hospital in Somajiguda as the family members of deceased the pensioner Madhusudana Chary, did not allow the body to be shifted for autopsy. Family members and some relatives of the deceased persons gathered at the hospital and did not allow authorities to shift the body to Osmania General Hospital mortuary.
Ramya’s uncle joined family members in the protest despite being on the stretcher and undergoing treatment at Yashoda hospital. The police tried to convince the family members of the deceased trio, but they were not ready to move from the place. They demanded the government to intervene in the matter and provide government job to one of their family members.
Infuriated relatives demanded that all others involved in the accident should be equally held accountable for the irreparable loss they have caused to this family. “Only one person has been arrested. Not only Shraveel, but his friends who were in the car are also responsible. They should be debarred from college and they should not be given driving license and their passports need to be impounded,” they demanded.
Chary’s daughter Nagamani, who arrived from US, told media that her father suffered a lot during treatment. He wanted to tell us something, but he was not able to hold even a pen. “They shattered our family. They should also suffer. Nobody should go through such a hard time.
Government should do something to curb drunken driving. Nobody should be allowed to drive without a license. We are seeing one person at least every day being a victim of drunken driving. What kind of system are we living in.
Is this the Bangaru Telangana we have asked for?” questioned Nagamani. However by evening, Chary’s kin were convinced after police assured them to take up the matter with the Chief Minister.
