School autos overloaded with children spark safety concerns in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Commuters in Hyderabad have raised serious concerns about the dangerous overloading of school auto-rickshaws across the city. Multiple reports have surfaced of autos carrying far more children than their capacity, with some even seen placing a child next to the driver near the steering wheel.

Sai Koushik, a local resident, told Hyderabad Mail, “Every morning, I see dozens of school autos packed beyond capacity. One auto had around 10 to 12 children crammed in, with one child sitting dangerously close to the driver. This needs urgent attention from enforcement agencies and parents.”

Koushik added, “These autos, designed to carry four or five children, are loaded with twice that number. Bags hang from the sides, and the driver rushes through traffic to complete more trips. This not only endangers the children but risks tipping the vehicle and trapping them inside.”

Koushik reported the violation to the Ramachandrapuram Traffic Police Station. Officials responded by summoning the auto driver for counselling. The police also interacted with the school principal and instructed them not to allow private vehicles for student transport without proper checks. Parents of the children involved were also spoken to.

Highlighting the issue on social media, Koushik posted on X (formerly Twitter), “Whom to punish for these kinds of acts? 1. Parents 2. Driver 3. Enforcement agencies 4. Everyone. These violations are seen across the state. What measures are being taken?” He tagged Cyberabad and Hyderabad traffic authorities in his post. The Cyberabad Traffic Police responded, asking for vehicle details to take action.

Another commuter, Ajith Nair, commented, “This is unacceptable. Parents should be held accountable first. Then the traffic department. The driver too must face strict action for such reckless behavior.”

Ramachandrapuram Traffic Police later confirmed that they had taken action. “We interacted with the school principal, called the auto driver to the station, and counselled him. We also spoke to the parents of the children involved,” the station official handle posted online.

The incident has sparked a broader conversation about the enforcement of school transport safety norms, with citizens urging stronger measures to prevent overcrowding and ensure children's safety on the roads.