KSRTC acquits its driver, blames lorry driver

KSRTC claims that the bus driver, Manthappa Bajanthar, is not responsible for the accident.

“The lorry had a tyre burst, lost control and stopped on the right side of the road. The driver did not have enough time to stop the vehicle and hit the lorry,” said a senior official of KSRTC.

“We have filed a complaint against the lorry driver and have also paid Rs5,000 to each (injured) student towards medical expenses,” the spokesperson added.

The driver also sustained minor injures with bruises on his hands and legs, the official added.

Mostly, two drivers take turns driving the bus in case of long-distance travel.

However, only one driver was given the responsibility of a bus for the school trip.

The official said there was no need for a second driver because, this being a site-seeing trip, the driver would have got enough time to rest.

When asked if the drivers are given any guidelines before they are sent on school trips, he said KSRTC instructs its drivers to be careful before every trip.

The official added that the division officers at Tumkur would give them a report on what happened in a couple of days, after which action would be taken.