3 KKRTC Staff Suspended After Bus Driven With Mobile Torchlight in Kalaburagi

Three employees of the Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC) have been suspended after a viral video showed a state-run bus being driven at night with the help of a mobile phone torch instead of functioning headlights in Karnataka’s Kalaburagi district. The incident sparked widespread criticism over passenger safety and vehicle maintenance.

According to reports, the bus was operating on the Kalaburagi–Chincholi route when its headlights failed. Rather than halting the journey, the driver continued to operate the bus while the conductor used the flashlight from a mobile phone to illuminate the road through the front windshield. The bus reportedly travelled nearly 84 kilometres in these unsafe conditions.

After the video circulated on social media, KKRTC launched an internal inquiry and suspended three staff members, including the driver, conductor, and a mechanical staff member, for alleged negligence and violation of safety protocols. The corporation said strict action was necessary because passenger safety had been seriously compromised.

The incident has also raised concerns about the maintenance of public transport vehicles in the region. Reports indicate that the bus had been experiencing technical issues for some time, prompting questions over why it was allowed to continue operating without proper repairs.

KKRTC officials have assured that a detailed investigation is underway and have reiterated that buses with major mechanical defects will not be allowed to operate until they are declared roadworthy. The viral incident has renewed calls for stricter vehicle inspections and better maintenance standards across the state’s public transport fleet.