School Bus Crashes Near Nagaram; Driver Felt Dizzy, Two Students Injured
The accident is the latest in a series of incidents involving school buses. Across Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Rachakonda, school bus accidents have increased by approximately over 35 per cent this year, raising questions over enforcement, driver fitness and monitoring.
HYDERABAD: A school bus crashed into a truck near Nagaram in Keesara, leaving two students injured on Tuesday morning. According to Keesara police, the bus driver reported feeling dizzy moments before the crash. The injured children are stable and undergoing treatment. He was not drunk, police confirmed.
The accident is the latest in a series of incidents involving school buses. Across Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Rachakonda, school bus accidents have increased by approximately over 35 per cent this year, raising questions over enforcement, driver fitness and monitoring.
Officials say the rise cannot be attributed to a single factor.
A senior official from the Road Transport Authority (RTA) said school buses undergo annual fitness certification before schools reopen, but driver health monitoring was not part of this framework. “We verify the vehicle condition and documentation. Driver medical fitness checks are not under our mandate. If the health department or schools introduce six-monthly screening, it would help prevent incidents linked to fatigue or health conditions,” the official said.
Drunk driving is another concern. In June, the Hyderabad city police booked five school bus drivers for driving under the influence of alcohol, during a surprise test.
Parents’ representatives say the issue is not the absence of rules, but the lack of enforcement and oversight. Venkata Sainath, general secretary of the Hyderabad Schools Parents’ Association, said, “Many schools now treat transport as a revenue-driven model. Driver health records, maintenance checks and tracking mechanisms are rarely maintained. Safety should come before profit.”
He further added that fitness checks should be routine and a priority. “Even enforcement authorities like RTA wake up when an incident occurs. But by then, in some cases, the damage is irreparable. Schools also outsource buses from private contractors and informal arrangements. Another concern is the age of the driver. Even 50-60 year olds are hired for driving school buses, with no background or fitness checks.”
