Surat BRTS Bus Drags Elderly Passenger; Driver Blacklisted, Operator Fined After Video Goes Viral

Surat: An elderly passenger’s hand got trapped in a BRTS bus door and he was dragged a few feet after the driver moved the bus while passengers were still boarding at the Parvat Patiya BRTS Junction. After a video of the incident went viral on social media, the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) suspended the driver with immediate effect and blacklisted him from future BRTS service. The civic body has also imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh on the bus operator.

According to the SMC, immediate action was taken against the driver for negligence while operating the bus at the Parvat Patiya BRTS Junction. The driver has been suspended from service and blacklisted, preventing him from working in the BRTS service in the future.

Taking the incident seriously, the SMC has also imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh on the bus operator, JBM Ecolife Mobility Surat Private Limited. The Municipal Corporation said it will not tolerate any negligence that compromises passenger safety.

What happened?

A large crowd of passengers had gathered at the Parvat Patiya BRTS Junction after a bus failed to arrive for a long time. As soon as the bus arrived, a large number of commuters rushed to board it. During the rush, the driver moved the bus forward while passengers were still boarding. As the doors closed, an elderly passenger’s hand got trapped, and he was dragged for about two to three feet. Two other passengers attempting to board the bus also fell on him. Fortunately, the bus was stopped immediately, preventing a major accident.

The viral video of the incident has sparked outrage among commuters. Passengers alleged that a shortage of buses leads to heavy crowding at the Parvat Patiya BRTS Junction every day, creating unsafe conditions. They have demanded an increase in the number of buses and stricter measures to ensure passenger safety.

The Surat Municipal Corporation said passenger safety remains its top priority and assured that necessary steps will be taken to prevent such incidents from recurring. It also appealed to commuters to follow safety guidelines while travelling. DeshGujarat