Kurnool: Students pursuing studies at the Bandi Atmakur Model School risk their lives to join the school by traveling on the Road Transport Corporation bus. According to reports, several students from Vengala Reddy, Kadamakalva, B Koduru, Ernapadu and Somayajula Palle and some villages in the Mandal are studying at the model school in Bandi Atmakur.

More than a hundred pupils from these villages study from 6th to intermediate. For the convenience of students, RTC authorities operate a Vidhyarthi (Palle Velugu) bus. The bus is unable to accommodate the students because the strength of the students is greater than the capacity of the bus. As there is no other bus, students are forced to travel by hanging on to the step at the risk of their life. It is not a one day practice and it is a daily circus for the students. If any of the students accidentally loses their hand on the window bars, their life will be in danger.

Parents are more concerned about the lives of their children and they express their anguish at the apathetic attitude of government officials to run another bus given the large number of students. Parents urge Nandyal RTC depot manager to sanction another bus and ensure that none of the students have encountered an unfortunate incident. Indian Youth Federation (AIYF) State Secretary General N Lenin Babu, speaking to The Hans India, said it was very unfortunate that officials, although aware of the dire situation, not be able to sanction one more bus for students. Although several protests have taken place in the past, no action has been taken in this regard, he said. Stating that the strength of students has increased dramatically in recent years, he said students from remote villages show a keen interest in pursuing higher education. Stuffing hundreds of students on a bus is a very unhealthy situation, he said, adding that they will ask RTC officials to sanction one more bus for traveling. If they don’t respond positively, they will intensify their protest, he warned.