A school van carrying students got stuck on the Balagere–Panathur stretch on September 19 morning, marking the second such incident in less than 10 days on this road in Bengaluru. The problem was reported around 8.30 a.m., with residents alleging that the driver was unable to move the vehicle safely because of poor road conditions.
Earlier, a school bus carrying 20 students had nearly toppled at the same location. Residents described the stretch as a ‘death trap’, saying repeated inspections have failed to provide a lasting solution.
“The Deputy Chief Minister talks about ‘Brand Bengaluru’, but this is ‘Broken Bengaluru’ — the ground reality,” a parent said.
After the previous incident, East Corporation officials, including Commissioner D.S. Ramesh, visited the spot and assured that immediate repair work would be taken up to prevent any recurrence.
On September 12, a school bus ferrying nearly 20 children fell into a pothole on the Balagere–Panathur Road in Bengaluru. The children had to be rescued through the emergency exit.
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Residents emphasised that accountability is essential and that negligent contractors and the engineers responsible for the road should be held legally liable. They also said school authorities and drivers must follow safety provisions strictly, as children’s lives cannot be compromised. Locals further called for durable, long-term repairs under public monitoring rather than temporary patchwork.
Published – September 19, 2025 02:13 pm IST
