Rishikesh – A serious case of overloading was reported in Rishikesh after transport officials found 120 passengers, including school students, travelling in a 32-sleeper bus that had arrived from Rajasthan. The bus was carrying students of Maa Bhagwati Vidyapeeth Senior Secondary School, Tasimo, from Dholpur district, who had come to Rishikesh on an educational tour covering a distance of around 842 kilometres.
The incident came to light on Monday evening when the Transport Department was conducting routine vehicle checks near Bhadra Kali temple on the Gangotri Highway. During the checking drive, an Agra-registered sleeper bus with a school excursion flex displayed in front was stopped for inspection. On checking the bus, officials were shocked to find more than 100 students crammed inside a vehicle meant for only 32 sleeper seats.
ARTO (Enforcement) Rashmi Pant stated that a total of 120 passengers were found onboard. It was also found that the driver and conductor were not wearing uniforms, and the driver did not have permission to operate a vehicle in hilly areas. Despite this, the driver was attempting to take the bus further towards Tapovan.
Considering the serious safety violations, the Transport Department imposed a challan of Rs 21,500 and seized the bus on the spot. The students and teachers were later safely transported to Haridwar railway station with the help of Uttarakhand Roadways buses.
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Transport officials said that student safety cannot be compromised under any circumstances and warned that overloading and rule violations will not be tolerated.
