Alcohol in One Hand, Steering in the Other: Drunk Driver Endangers Passengers

Bengaluru: The driver and cleaner of an inter-state private bus allegedly threatened to kill passengers while driving under the influence of alcohol, creating panic among travellers on a Kozhikode–Bengaluru–Chennai service operated by Bengaluru-based Bharathi Travels.

The incident took place around midnight on Monday. Passengers became alarmed when the bus repeatedly swerved off its lane, prompting one of them to check the driver’s cabin. There, they found the driver pouring alcohol into a glass and consuming it while operating the bus, and the cleaner lying unconscious after drinking.

When passengers demanded that the vehicle be halted, the driver allegedly responded by threatening to deliberately crash the bus and kill everyone on board. He reportedly made a sudden sharp turn at one point, causing fear among the passengers and forcing them to withdraw.

Later, near the Srirangapatna toll plaza, the bus slowed down, allowing passengers to approach the driver and attempt to restrain him. The driver then grabbed a liquor bottle, jumped off the bus, and fled the scene.

The service was eventually completed after a replacement driver arrived from Bengaluru nearly four hours later.

Passengers were further outraged when the same driver was reportedly assigned duty again the very next day. In response, several passengers released video evidence of the incident. Bharathi Travels has previously faced complaints regarding driver behaviour and passenger safety.