School Bus Inspection Drive Launched Across Dakshina Kannada Following Tragic Kalladka Incident; 4 Vehicles Seized

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Bantwal : Following the tragic death of a young schoolgirl when a tree fell on a Sri Rama Vidya Kendra school bus in Kalladka, the Dakshina Kannada district administration, police, and RTO officials have initiated a rigorous drive to inspect school buses for proper documentation and safety standards.

As part of this enforcement drive, Bantwal town police and Regional Transport Office (RTO) officials jointly conducted checks on school buses near B.C. Road Circle on Monday. During the inspection, four buses lacking proper documentation were seized, including three belonging to the Baraka Educational Institution in Mangaluru and one from Badakabailu Majlis Educational Institution in Bantwal. The move comes after significant documentation lapses were uncovered during the investigation into the Kalladka accident, which also led to a case being registered against the management of Sri Rama Vidya Kendra at the Bantwal Town Police Station. Authorities affirmed that such checks and strict legal actions will continue across the district to prioritize students’ safety.

However, the timing of the enforcement drive has drawn criticism from the public, raising sharp concerns about the proactive responsibilities of the concerned departments. Many citizens questioned why officials initiated these checks only five days after a child lost her life, rather than conducting routine pre-inspection of school vehicles at the start of the academic year two months ago. Public sentiment emphasizes that ensuring children’s safety should not be limited to reactive operations following a tragedy, but must instead involve continuous oversight and preventive inspections to stop such violations before accidents occur.