An alleged video has gone viral on social media showing a state-owned public transport bus being driven without functional headlights, and the crew using a mobile phone flashlight to manage the situation, raising concerns about passenger safety.
The alleged video shows a Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC) bus plying on the Kalaburagi-Chincholi route driving at night in almost complete darkness due to faulty headlights.
While the driver was driving the bus, the bus conductor was seen using a mobile phone flashlight to illuminate the road in front of him, endangering the safety of passengers.
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Watch the video here:
The incident is said to have occurred on Saturday night.
But there was no immediate reaction from the Ministry of Transport on this issue.
According to officials, the bus departs from Kalaburagi at 7.30 pm to Chincholi, covering a distance of about 84 km.
Opposition parties in Karnataka targeted the state government over the issue, claiming that the incident reflects the poor state of the state’s public transport system and accused the Congress government of “failing” to ensure the safety of passengers.
The BJP alleged that due to the failure of the Congress government, passengers had to travel about 90 km from Kalaburagi to Chincholi using mobile torches after the headlights of the rickety bus malfunctioned.
“Everything is in chaos under the Congress government’s misrule. In Kalyana Karnataka district, lack of adequate buses has forced people to travel risking their lives,” she said in a post on X.
If the Congress government is unable to properly manage even a basic public service like the transport system, how can the state be expected to improve, the BJP asked.
The JD(S) also slammed the state government over the alleged video, criticizing the “pathetic” state of governance under the “guarantee” regime imposed by the Congress government.
“The fact that the KKRTC bus plying between Kalaburagi and Chincholi was traveling without headlights, forcing passengers to travel with the conductor using the torch light of a mobile phone, is a blatant reflection of the administrative failure of the government,” she claimed in a post on X.
It alleged that the new buses purchased using funds from the Kalyana Karnataka District Development Board (KKRDB) have been diverted elsewhere, while the buses that were supposed to be scrapped are being operated on Chincholi Road.
“Why is the Congress government showing such a paternalistic attitude towards Kalyana Karnataka region? This alleged negligence by the Transport Department, which is playing with the lives of innocent passengers, is highly condemnable,” she claimed.
The JD(S) demanded immediate action against the responsible officials and deployment of roadworthy buses in this area without delay.
“The Minister of Transport seems preoccupied with propaganda rather than showing concern for the safety of the general public,” she claimed.
