Passengers hand over drunk crew on Tiruchy bound bus to police

After the bus crew were handed over to them by the angry passengers, the Kancheepuram police booked the driver for drunk driving and also informed the State-run Corporation about the development, on Saturday night.

After the bus (TN 32 N 4540) belonging to the State Transport Corporation (Villupuram) started from the CMBT, Koyambedu, passengers on board noticed that the driver, later identified as Durairaj, was driving the vehicle rashly. They suspected that the driver could have been driving under the influence of alcohol.

Concerned over their safety, the passengers approached the conductor of the bus, Prabakaran, and informed him that the driver was drunk. However, the conductor refused to acknowledge their complaints.

Finally, after the bus reached Singaperumalkoil on the outskirts, the passengers got together and forced the driver to stop the vehicle. They immediately alerted the Maraimalai Nagar police and informed them about the matter.

Soon, a team of police personnel reached the spot on a patrol vehicle and made the driver take the breathalyser test. Following this, the crew reportedly told the police they had consumed alcohol in the afternoon.

“The driver and conductor were under the influence of alcohol. A drunk driving case was filed against the driver, and the senior officials of the transport corporation were informed about the development,” said the police.

The Transport Department arranged for another bus and crew members to take the stranded passengers to their destination. Police said that the TNSTC would take appropriate action against the crew who consumed alcohol while on duty. According to the police, this could have led to a mishap but for thealert ones among the 50 passengers on board.