Vijayawada: The shocking accident of Yerpedu in Chittoor district on April 22, in which 15 persons died and several others injured had given an opportunity to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to fix responsibilities on the officers. The Yerpedu incident exposes the failures of the police and revenue officials and that had made Chandrababu Naidu to hold respective district Collectors and SPs responsible henceforth for such accidents. The ill-fated truck driver was found in a drunken state and Chief Minister wondered how the officials have allowed him to drive the vehicle. He blamed the officials of the Chittoor administration for not conducting regular checks on the vehicles and traffic management.

The Chief Minister directed the district Collectors and the SPs to hold frequent reviews on the road safety in their respective districts and also have checks on road for drunken drive and other violations. The vehicles are to be checked thoroughly for permits, licences, fitness and the status of the drivers to prevent accidents, the Chief Minister said. He also directed the officials of the revenue, police and transport departments to have coordination in preventing accidents on the roads.

While reiterating his government’s commitment to provide sand free for the people, the Chief Minister wanted the district administrations to keep a regular and thorough check on the sand mining and transportation. In the light of allegations against the illegal sand quarrying and smuggling, the Chief Minister issued strict warnings to the officials to prevent such illegal activity. He said he had already suspended the membership of the two leaders from the TDP for their alleged involvement in the illegal sand mining in Chittoor district and said that he would not hesitate to take action against anyone.