Rishikesh authorities on Monday intercepted a 32-sleeper bus carrying 120 people, including over 100 school students, during a routine transport check near Bhadrakali Temple on the Gangotri Highway. The bus, originating from Dholpur in Rajasthan, was en route to Rishikesh on an educational tour when officials discovered the overloading.

The vehicle had crossed multiple state borders without being stopped, reaching Rishikesh unchecked. Officials noticed a flex board advertising the school tour displayed prominently on the front of the bus, which prompted the inspection. Upon boarding, authorities were shocked to find more than 100 students from Maa Bhagwati Vidyapeeth Higher Secondary School, Tasimo, packed into a vehicle designed for only 32 sleepers.

Alongside the students, the bus carried the driver, conductor, and around 20 additional passengers, taking the total occupancy to 120. The ARTO (Enforcement), Rashmi Pant, highlighted that both the driver and conductor were not in uniform and did not have permission to operate in the mountainous terrain beyond Tapovan, violating multiple safety norms.

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The transport department imposed a fine of ₹21,500 and seized the bus to prevent further misuse. Pant emphasized that overloading and violation of passenger safety regulations would not be tolerated, and strict action would be taken against erring operators.

The students and accompanying teachers were safely transferred to Haridwar railway station using state roadways buses. Officials assured that their safety was a priority and that alternative arrangements were made swiftly to continue their educational tour without further risk. This incident underscores persistent lapses in inter-state transport monitoring, raising concerns about student safety on long-distance tours and the need for stricter enforcement of vehicle capacity regulations.

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