Class 12 student compelled to run behind bus on Board exam day after it misses stop in Tirupattur village; TNSTC driver suspended

A Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) driver was suspended and a contract-basis conductor was terminated after the staff of the bus didn't stop the vehicle at a bus stand in Tirupattur district's Kothakottai village on Tuesday (March 24, 2025) and made a Class 12 student dash behind the bus to get on the bus.

A TNSTC bus driver was suspended and a contract-basis conductor was terminated after the staff members failed to stop the vehicle at a bus stand in Kothakottai village in Tirupattur district on Tuesday (March 24, 2025), compelling a Class 12 student to run alongside the bus to get in.

A video of the accident went viral on social media, which infuriated the public. TNSTC officials stated that the bus driver S. Muniraj has been suspended and conductor K. Ashok Kumar was relieved of his post. Moreover, a departmental inquiry has also been ordered against the driver for the accident.

The first inquiry indicated that Muniraj was operating the bus (Route No: 1C; Tirupattur-Alangayam) from a bus stand in Ambur with a total of around 20 commuters. The bus had proceeded beyond Vaniyambadi town and reached the Kothakottai village but did not halt at the bus stop meant for it because there were no commuters to alight there.

A Class 12 student, who was headed to sit for Board exam, however, was spotted running behind the bus to get on; a few minutes later, the bus was halted after passengers alerted the bus crew. The act, which was recorded on video by some motorists close to the bus stop, went viral on social media sites.

A group of TNSTC officials have visited the bus stop as part of their investigation into the accident. An inquiry is in progress.