The bus accident near Pavagada, Tumakuru district, in which five youth, all between 18 and 22 years lost their lives, has exposed the need for a more robust State-run bus network especially in rural areas of Karnataka. Passengers were travelling on the roof of the ill-fated bus and many were clinging onto the footboard when it overturned. As a result more than 40 people were injured, eight of whom are in critical condition.
Though Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) operates 13 services every day between Y.N. Hosakote and Pavagada, there are not enough, and passengers are forced to rely on private operators who drive overcrowded buses with impunity. Hundreds of villagers who gathered at the spot after the accident to help with rescue efforts blamed the police and the transport authorities for not cracking down on private operators who do not follow the rules.
On March 13, The Hindu had reported that over 3,000 villages where KSRTC has monopoly do not have access to its services. Among the 17 districts where KSRTC has monopoly, Chitradurga and Tumakuru (both neighbouring districts) have the highest number of villages deprived of KSRTC services. A total of 578 villages in Chitradurga and Tumakuru have 510 villages that do not have KSRTC bus service.
