![\"Students](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-132768354,imgsize-42032,width-400,height-225,resizemode-75\/8a447b04-0cbd-4caf-89a7-67344fd3e870_bus_1jpg.jpg\" "\\"Risky")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nBelagavi<\/span>:<\/span> Students from Jhunjarwad village in Athani taluk are risking their lives by travelling on the footboards of overcrowded KSRTC buses due to inadequate public transport facilities. The village is served by only one bus to Athani town, the sole transport option for hundreds of school and college students. Missing the bus means missing classes and jeopardising mandatory attendance requirements for examinations. Students and parents have urged authorities to introduce additional services to ensure safe and reliable travel.Jhunjarwad, a large village located 33 km from Athani with a population of around 4,500, has drawn attention after videos showing students hanging precariously from bus footboards went viral on social media. The footage shows schoolgirls and other students clinging to the bus with much of their bodies outside the vehicle, raising serious safety concerns. Even a minor slip could prove fatal.The lone bus service is unable to accommodate the growing number of students and daily commuters travelling between Jhunjarwad and Athani, forcing many to undertake the hazardous journey.A North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) official said more than 120 buses operate daily from Athani to about 80 villages spread across the Athani, Kagwad, Telasang and Anantapur hoblis. However, owing to a shortage of buses and staff, and other operational constraints, transport facilities are not available to all villages.Umar Mulla, a teacher from Darga village, said hundreds of students from Jhunjarwad, Radderahatti, Satti and Mahishwadagi travel to Athani for higher education. While each village is served by only one bus with two or three trips, passenger numbers, especially women commuters, have increased nearly fourfold. The number of students pursuing college education has also risen, but transport services have not kept pace, he said.Students alleged that despite submitting repeated memorandums to authorities and KSRTC chairperson Bharamagouda Kage, no additional bus service has been introduced. They urged authorities to immediately deploy more buses before tragedy strikes.Bharamagouda Kage, MLA and KSRTC chairperson, said he was unaware of the situation and described it as a serious matter. He assured that immediate steps would be taken to prevent students from travelling in such dangerous conditions.<\/div>\n