In an incident, exposing glaring lapses in public transport safety on the Nuvem-Manora route, a Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL) bus—GA-03 X 0276—broke down, with the driver forcing nearly 10 to 15 students to push the vehicle on Tuesday afternoon.
The incident has sparked outrage among citizens, who have demanded not just action against the driver for putting students lives at risk, but also a comprehensive audit of all KTC school buses and the implementation of strict maintenance and safety protocols.
The bus, which was ferrying students to their homes from one of Salcete’s reputed schools, reportedly stalled mid-route at around 2.10 pm. Shockingly, the driver instructed the students, mostly boys in uniform, to get down and push the heavy vehicle in an attempt to restart it. The incident was witnessed by an O Heraldo reporter who confirmed that no adult assistance was provided at the time.
This disturbing event unfolds at a time when KTC is already facing widespread criticism for poor maintenance of its fleet. Concerns over aging, under-serviced buses have dominated public discourse in recent weeks. This latest incident further amplifies those concerns, especially as it involves minors being exposed to physical risk due to mechanical failure and negligence.
Local residents and parents have expressed deep outrage over the unsafe handling of the situation.
“This is beyond carelessness. How can a driver ask children to push a bus? What if there had been an accident or injury?” asked an angry parent from Nuvem. Condemning the incident, Menino Quadros, a resident of the area, who witnessed the scene, said: “It was heartbreaking to see school children pushing a government bus on the road. This exposes the poor maintenance of KTC vehicles. It’s shameful and dangerous. Authorities need to wake up before something worse happens.”
The bus involved—GA-03 X 0276—has now become a symbol of the growing frustration among Goans over the condition of public transport.
Many are demanding not just action against the driver, but also a comprehensive audit of all KTC school buses and the implementation of strict maintenance and safety protocols.
As of now, Kadamba Transport Corporation and government authorities have not released an official statement.
However, public pressure is mounting for accountability and swift corrective measures to ensure student safety is not compromised.