Students Cling to Bus Ladder in Udupi After Axle Failure, Video Sparks Safety Worries

Late last week, a private bus traveling from Udupi to Kundapur jacked up abruptly, causing passengers—mostly school children—to cling onto a wooden ladder for balance. The incident, captured on a passenger’s phone, spread across Facebook and WhatsApp within hours, drawing widespread attention.

Experts say the abrupt jolt resulted from a sudden loss of traction on a steep hill. The ladder, typically installed for toll-bus drivers, is not designed to support passengers in such circumstances, sparking doubts about the adequacy of safety measures on private buses that ferry students in the region.

Parents and local education officials have demanded investigations into the bus operator’s maintenance records and the enforcement of national safety guidelines for commercial transport. The Karnataka Transport Minister announced an audit of bus fleets in coastal districts and encouraged the use of seat belts where available. Source: Google News – Udupi.