Date:31/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/31/stories/2008033160111400.htm

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Worker fatally hit by bus in Mumbai airport

Mumbai: A worker was killed after being hit by a speeding Air India service bus inside the international airport here in the early hours of Sunday.

The accident occurred when Dnyaneshwar Appa Kunte, working for a private ground handling agency was carrying out loading operations for a flight at Bay 46 of the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport.

It is the third incident in recent months of airport employees being fatally hit by moving vehicles on airport tarmacs in Mumbai and Delhi.

A senior police officer said efforts were on to nab the absconding bus driver.

Probe ordered

The Directorate-General of Civil Aviation has initiated a probe into the incident.

An employee of the ground handling agency said the bus was driven at a high speed at the time of the accident. Airport sources and the police also said the bus was overspeeding.

Several workers of the company reportedly made protests after the incident.

Air India has expressed regret over the incident. “We regret the incident and express our deep sympathy to the victim’s family,” an Air India spokesperson said. — PTI