Ola

financial analyst

accident

Tata Indica

Family of injured passenger questions legal answerability of city-based online cab aggregator in case of mishapA day after ancab driver died on the spot and a 37-year-oldsuffered severe injuries in the, the family of the injured victim questions why Ola Cabs is not legally bound to provide assistance to the family.Mukesh Kumar, 37, a regular customer of Ola Cabs, had to take a flight to Mumbai for a business meeting scheduled on Tuesday. He booked a cab from his residence at Basavanagudi and left in one at about 4:45 am. Around 5:15 am, thebearing registration number KA 05 AE 7627, met with a severe accident near the Yelahanka Air Force Station after hitting the road divider in which the driver died. Deceased Suresh Kumar, 28, from Subramanyapura, worked with Ola Cabs. Police suspect that the driver may have fallen asleep while driving.Confirming the incident, Yelahanka police inspector H Krishnamurthy said, “As soon as the accident took place, the national highway police reached the spot, only to find the driver had died. They moved the injured passenger to a nearby hospital.”Mukesh’s wife and two daughters are devastated by the accident. His brother Suresh Kumar, a charted accountant who stays with them said, “A national highway ambulance took him to Columbia Asia from where he was shifted to Baptist Hospital in Hebbal. I was informed by the hospital authorities around 7:00 am. I rushed to the hospital where I was told that he had suffered head and abdominal injuries.”He was operated upon at around 5 pm on Wednesday. But the family questions why Ola Cabs has not bothered to offer any kind of help to the passenger and his family. “An Ola Cabs official came to the hospital once. But we have not heard from them after that. Is it not legally bound to take steps to mend the situation? They were just waiting to escape from the situation,” Suresh complained.After the accident, Mukesh called Ola Cabs as he was semiconscious, but halfway through the call, he fell unconscious. Hospital authorities said that he had suffered minor head injuries, but major abdominal injuries that required surgery.“The cost of the operation will go up to lakhs of rupees, but there is no indication the company will help us in anyway. At least we can afford the treatment, but what happens to a patient who cannot afford expensive treatment?” asked Suresh.Mukesh’s condition is stable and the family is set to file a case against Ola Cabs after the discharge. “As soon as he gets out of hospital, I will make sure that they pay for the harassment they have put us through. I am determined to take them to court,” Suresh said.Police confirmed that a chargesheet has been filed in the case. Ola Cabs refused to comment on the accident.Dr Satish Ramaiah, psychiatrist at People Tree Hospitals, said, “Most people who work in shifts suffer some sort of sleep disorder. I once had a patient from a reputed cab company who told me he had a tendency to fall asleep while driving. I told him to stop driving first and then undergo treatment but he never returned. Most accidents of this nature happen between 4:00 am and 6:00 am, and 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm because there is a high tendency to dose off during this time. People who work flexible shifts always challenge their biological clock, which could lead to mishaps.” In case of cab drivers, a mishap could occur even during the day because of irregular shifts.