Bengaluru: A fatal accident occurred on Friday morning at 8:45 AM in Peenya 2nd Stage, Bengaluru, when a BMTC electric bus, allegedly operated by a conductor instead of the official driver, crashed into a roadside canteen, leaving one woman dead and at least seven others injured. The deceased, 25-year-old Suma, succumbed to her injuries at Venkateshwara Hospital.
According to eyewitnesses, the BMTC electric bus was parked at the depot when the driver stepped away for a break, leaving the keys in the ignition. The conductor, identified as Ramesh, attempted to move the vehicle to clear the path. However, he lost control, and the bus veered off the road, ramming into a small canteen on the footpath, running over five people and causing chaos.
Among the severely injured was Salma Sultan, who sustained multiple fractures to her legs and head, and remains in critical condition. Hospital sources have confirmed that the postmortem report of Suma revealed severe internal injuries and multiple fractures, indicating the intensity of the impact.
The accident site was littered with debris — overturned vessels, broken stoves, and food splattered across the area. Gas cylinders stored at the canteen narrowly avoided catching fire, thanks to the swift response from locals who doused the flames.
Eyewitnesses and family members criticized the BMTC, questioning why a conductor was handling the steering. “If that gas cylinder had exploded, everyone in the bus would have been charred. This is gross negligence,” said Salma’s father who also demanded compensation and swift action.
BMTC officials admitted that the vehicle was being operated in violation of standard protocol. “An internal inquiry has been ordered to determine how the conductor gained access to drive the bus. We are cooperating fully with the police,” a senior BMTC official stated.
The Peenya Traffic Police have taken both the driver and conductor into custody for questioning. Preliminary findings suggest that driver negligence and unauthorized vehicle movement were at the root of the incident.
This is not the first time such concerns have been raised about BMTC operations. The incident has reignited calls for tighter internal controls, clearer accountability, and better enforcement of operational rules to prevent such tragedies in the future.
