An early morning incident involving a school bus packed with nearly 20 children has once again highlighted the hazardous condition of Bengaluru’s roads. The bus, traveling along the frequently used Balagere–Panathur Road, tilted dangerously after one of its wheels got trapped in a pothole concealed by rainwater and slush.

The driver, reportedly attempting to overtake another bus from the left side, misjudged the edge of the road where a section had weakened due to persistent waterlogging. Dashcam footage from a car behind captured the slow and alarming tilt of the bus, prompting passersby and locals to rush in and evacuate the children through the emergency exit.

Thanks to the swift action of residents, bystanders, and another bus driver who stopped to help, all children were rescued without injury. However, the children were briefly stranded in the muddy roadside area before being transported safely some in another school bus and others in private vehicles.

This incident triggered an outpouring of public frustration. Residents staged a protest holding placards that read, “Refund tax, we will build our city.” One resident expressed outrage over the lack of basic infrastructure despite high property prices: “Each of our flats is about Rs 2 crore in this area. But we are not getting the infrastructure we deserve.”

Another resident criticised years of inaction: “They (officials) have not done anything for the drain. The condition has worsened in the past three years.” Several locals also pointed out that the road had only been “patched” recently, despite repeated complaints.

The condition of the road was so bad that even students had taken it upon themselves to write a letter to Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, stating: “It has made commuting increasingly difficult and unsafe for us.”

The episode comes in the wake of a tragic fatality just a day earlier. Madhavi, a 44-year-old resident of Mangaluru’s Surathkal Kulai, lost her life after her two-wheeler toppled over a pothole on National Highway-66 near Kulur. She was run over by a lorry driven by Mohammed Farooq. Eyewitnesses say she died on the spot. Locals revealed that this was the fifth death at the same location due to potholes.

Authorities have since registered a case at the Mangaluru North Traffic Police Station under relevant sections of the Indian Motor Vehicles Act and Bangalore Navigation System. Notices have also been served to NHAI officials, who have been accused of negligence in maintaining the highway.

Public Works Minister DK Shivakumar recently admitted that Bengaluru currently has around 10,000 potholes, underscoring the scale of the issue. Although Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had visited the same Balagere–Panathur stretch earlier this year, residents say little has changed since.

As investigations proceed and civic bodies remain under pressure, residents and parents alike are demanding not just accountability but visible, lasting action. Their message is clear: Bengaluru’s roads are no longer just inconvenient they are life-threatening.