Team Goemkarponn
MAPUSA: A Nepal-bound bus carrying 147 passengers was detained near Bodgeshwar Temple in Mapusa after authorities reportedly found it grossly overcrowded, with the vehicle having a seating capacity of just 48.
According to information received, the bus had departed from Mapusa Bus Stand carrying passengers heading to Nepal to celebrate Diwali with their families. The passengers, who reportedly work in Goa, are said to be from Calangute, Margao, Nerul and other constituencies across the state.
Passengers alleged that four to five people were accommodated on a single seat due to the excessive overcrowding. Some also claimed that they had paid around ₹4,000 each for the journey.
In a serious allegation, passengers reportedly claimed that police personnel at various points along the route accepted payments of approximately ₹40,000 and allowed the overloaded bus to continue its journey. They further alleged that such practices have been continuing for nearly four years.
The incident has raised serious concerns over passenger safety, illegal overloading and the enforcement of transport regulations. The bus was eventually detained by police in Mapusa.
The incident also raises questions about how a vehicle with a seating capacity of 48 was allegedly allowed to carry nearly three times its permitted capacity and whether similar violations have been taking place regularly.
With hundreds of passengers travelling across states during the festive season, the incident highlights the urgent need for stricter monitoring and accountability to prevent a potential tragedy.
