Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady
Beltangady, Oct 7: In a highly unusual incident, six Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses broke down at different locations across Beltangady taluk on Monday, causing major inconvenience to passengers and severe traffic disruptions in several areas.
In the morning, a KSRTC bus belonging to the Mangaluru division broke down near Guruvayankere Junction on the Mangaluru–Villupuram National Highway, resulting in a traffic jam stretching over a kilometre. Commuters struggled as vehicles, including lorries and buses, were diverted through alternative routes via Mescom Road, Hunisekatte, and Gerukatte to ease congestion.
Another bus travelling towards Puttur broke down on the Gerukatte–Mallottu road, leaving passengers stranded.
Near Neerachilume, close to Pajiradka Cross, a bus travelling from Dharmasthala to Chikkamagaluru suffered a blade cut, causing a tyre to come off, disrupting traffic once again.
By evening, yet another KSRTC bus from Dharmasthala to State Bank, Mangaluru, belonging to the Mangaluru division, broke down near Kashibettu, Layila, after a tyre burst, forcing passengers to wait for long hours.
A bus operating from Mangaluru to Chikkamagaluru also broke down near Varakabail, close to Guruvayankere, creating further difficulties for commuters. Similarly, a Dharmasthala–Mangaluru service bus stopped midway at Kanyadi following a mechanical failure, adding to passengers’ woes.
Since Monday was the weekly market day in Beltangady, a large number of people had arrived from different areas and were severely inconvenienced by the series of breakdowns.
Frequent breakdowns of KSRTC buses on the Dharmasthala–Mangaluru route have become a common occurrence, causing anxiety among passengers who fear unexpected halts or mishaps during travel.
Despite recurring issues, officials and elected representatives have reportedly shown little concern for bus maintenance or vehicle condition. Locals have urged authorities to take immediate steps to improve the upkeep of government buses and alleviate the hardships faced by daily commuters.