In six years, over 1,000 people killed in private bus accidents in Karnataka | Bengaluru News

Bengaluru: Road accidents involving private buses have claimed 1,127 lives in the state over the past six years, with official data revealing a sharp rise in recent years and raising serious concerns about safety compliance. According to the transport department, 3,823 accidents were reported during this period, largely attributed to driver negligence, technical faults, and violations of road safety norms.The situation has worsened significantly, with the number of accidents more than doubling from 335 in 2020 to 847 in 2025. Fatalities increased from 114 to 253 over the same period, while the number of injured surged from 675 to 1,803. The data also records three fire accidents involving private buses, which claimed eight lives and left six injured. These incidents were reported in Chitradurga and Shivamogga. The surge in accidents and casualties has put the spotlight on enforcement gaps, vehicle fitness, and operational practices in the private bus sector.During the period, the enforcement wing of the transport department booked 46,650 cases by conducting 68 special drives and collecting penalties exceeding Rs 10.3 crore. Despite no significant increase in the number of vehicles inspected, the number of violations detected has risen sharply. Responding to questions raised by MLC D Arun on action taken against errant private operators, transport minister Ramalinga Reddy said that in 2020-21, regional transport offices (RTOs) inspected 23,086 vehicles and booked 3,922 cases. In contrast, in the current financial year so far, 20,289 vehicles have been inspected, but as many as 11,165 cases registered — more than double the violations recorded six years ago.March 31 deadlineFollowing a series of fire incidents involving sleeper coach buses, the state govt has set March 31 as the deadline for private operators to comply with enhanced safety norms. Officials said strict directions have been issued to private bus operators and bus body builders to adhere to prescribed standards aimed at improving passenger safety.As part of the revised guidelines, partition doors behind the driver’s cabin must be removed, as they can obstruct evacuation through the front exit during emergencies. The use of berth sliders in air-conditioned sleeper buses has also been prohibited, with officials citing safety risks associated with manual sliding mechanisms used in place of curtains.The department has mandated a minimum of four emergency exits in 12-metre buses and at least five in buses exceeding 12 metres in length. Installation of fire extinguishers has been made compulsory across all such vehicles. Transporting commercial goods in passenger buses has also been strictly prohibited.Officials said the measures are in line with directions from the National Human Rights Commission, which called on states to implement recommendations from a safety study conducted by the Central Institute of Road Transport. Fitness certificates (FCs) will not be issued to buses that fail to comply with the new safety requirements.