Assam: Maria's Public School operated bus nearly runs over motorists in Guwahati

A school bus from Maria’s Public School in Guwahati, Assam, bearing registration number AS01GC4361, narrowly avoided disaster on Sunday afternoon when it sped onto a one-way road near the ISBT flyover, nearly colliding with a local journalist and a biker.

The incident has raised serious concerns about the lack of background checks and oversight for school bus drivers in the city.

The bus, driven by a man who appeared intoxicated, careened through the busy ISBT area, ignoring traffic rules and endangering lives.

DY365 journalist who was on his way to the office narrowly escaped being hit, while another biker swerved to avoid a collision, nearly losing control of his vehicle.

Eyewitnesses described the driver as erratic, with some reporting a strong smell of alcohol. When questioned, the driver claimed he was returning from a “PM event,” but passengers—who did not appear to be school staff—appeared unaware of any such event, casting doubt on his story.

It moreover seemed as if the school bus was being used to ferry passengers illegally.

The incident seemed to be a case of the absence of mandatory background checks and regular oversight for school bus drivers.

“This isn’t just about one drunk driver,” said a local e-rickshaw driver. “It’s about a system that lets someone like this behind the wheel of a school bus without scrutiny", he said.

Attempts to contact Maria’s Public School for comment were unsuccessful, as the number listed on their website was unresponsive.