Joida: On Saturday, a situation of distress unfolded for school students, college students, and the general public as they found themselves stranded for over five hours on the Joida-Dandeli route without any bus service.

The chaotic episode occurred when the Ulavi-Hubli bus reached the Joida bus stand, resulting in a stampede. The negligence exhibited by the driver and conductor, who departed the bus while students were still boarding and jeopardized the safety of passengers, was glaringly evident.

Despite schools and colleges dismissing in the afternoon, no buses plied on the Joida-Dandeli route from 11 am to noon. This lack of transportation inconvenienced hundreds of people traveling on this route, particularly due to a fair in the vicinity. The Ulavi-Hubli bus finally arrived at the Joida bus stand at three in the afternoon, leading to a surge of passengers, including students, attempting to board. Chaos ensued as passengers jostled, with some even attempting to enter through the bus windows.

In the midst of the commotion, the bus operator failed to manage the situation appropriately. Instead of controlling the number of passengers and prioritizing those in need, the bus began moving while passengers were still boarding. This not only posed a danger but also demonstrated negligence on the part of the driver and operator.

Addressing the issue, the Bus Depot Manager of the Dandeli Unit acknowledged that some buses scheduled for this route were delayed. However, he assured that a new bus has been arranged to ease the inconvenience for passengers traveling via the Joida-Dandeli route.