CHENNAI: A first-year college student suffered facial and hand injuries after falling from the footboard of an overcrowded State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) bus near Koolur on the Chennai-Tirupati National Highway on Wednesday, leading to a protest by commuters demanding additional bus services on the Tiruvallur-Tiruttani route.
The injured, S Vasanth (18), a resident of Kanchippadi village in Thiruvalangadu Union and a first-year undergraduate student at the Government Arts College, Tiruttani, had boarded the SETC bus from Tiruvallur to attend classes.
According to sources, the bus was packed with passengers and students, forcing Vasanth to travel on the footboard. Near Koolur, he allegedly lost his balance and fell off the moving bus. He is undergoing treatment at the Tiruvallur Government Medical College Hospital where sources said his condition is stable.
“We have only one private bus and one SETC bus on this route. The buses are always overcrowded and often arrive late, making us late for school. We request the government to operate more buses, so students do not have to risk travelling on the footboard,” said a school student, requesting anonymity.
Personnel from the Kanagammachatram police station held talks with the protesters, following which the agitation was withdrawn.
A Anbazhagan, president of All Omni Bus Owners’ Association and a researcher on transport-related accidents, said data released by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in 2024 showed that nearly 48% of fatal bus-related accidents were caused by passengers falling from footboards or losing balance while boarding or alighting. “The government should not only increase bus services to reduce overcrowding but also intensify awareness campaigns on the risks of footboard travel,” he said.
However, the Tiruvallur District Transport Department General Manager disputed the sequence of events, stating the student had attempted to alight before the bus reached the stop. “There are adequate buses operating on this route. Public awareness against footboard travel is equally important,” the official said.
The official also recalled an incident last week in which a student hurled stones at an SETC bus after the conductor asked him to move inside instead of travelling on the footboard.