Blurb: Critics questioned running buses despite safety concerns, asking if the government truly values ordinary passengers’ lives.
Dharwad
Opposition Leader R. Ashoka has strongly criticised the Karnataka government after a Northwest Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) bus was driven for around 15 km using passengers’ mobile phone torches after its headlight failed in Kundgol taluk of Dharwad district.
The bus had left Hubballi for Attigere around 8 pm on Saturday. When it reached Sanshi in Kundgol taluk, the headlight reportedly stopped working due to a technical problem. As passengers could not be dropped off midway, the driver continued the journey with the help of mobile phone flashlights provided by passengers.
Ashoka criticised the government in a post on X, saying the incident reflected serious negligence in maintaining public transport vehicles. He alleged that buses were being operated despite safety concerns and questioned whether the government was giving adequate importance to the lives of ordinary passengers.
He also questioned District Minister Santosh Lad and Transport Minister B. S. Suresh over the condition of public transport in Dharwad. Ashoka said passengers and drivers should not be forced to travel while facing risks caused by poor maintenance. He also questioned whether free bus travel for women was being prioritised at the cost of passenger safety.
The opposition leader demanded immediate inspection of all damaged and poorly maintained transport buses and called for necessary repairs. He warned that if the government and transport authorities failed to act, the BJP would launch protests against officials and ministers responsible for the alleged negligence. Meanwhile, the driver reportedly drove slowly from Sanshi through Gudageri to Attigere, taking about 90 minutes instead of the usual 15–20 minutes and safely dropping passengers at their destinations.
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Bus safety sparks political row
A Hubballi-Attigere bus driver navigated using passenger mobile flashlights after headlights failed near Sanshi. Opposition leader Ashoka slammed ministers over maintenance neglect, contrasting passenger safety with free travel schemes, while the bus reached safely after 90 minutes.
