Overloading of passenger vehicles can be catastrophic, and there is no glaring example of that than the Kondagattu bus tragedy that took place on September 11 last year. However, the authorities concerned prefer to turn a blind eye to the menace of overloading.

A considerable number of seven-seater autorickshaws plying on Hyderabad fringes and elsewhere in the State serve as live examples. Even many Road Transport Corporation (RTC) buses rely on this dangerous practice.

“Stand at any bus stop on the city outskirts and watch RTC buses being run on routes where colleges are located. During the peak hours in the morning and after college hours, these buses are overloaded,” N. Srinivas, a teacher in Dilsukhnagar, says.

He cites Kompally, L.B. Nagar and Alwal as examples where overloading is rampant.

The RTC authorities stopped bus service on Kondagattu ghat road following the devastating accident. Yet, buses being operated on other routes across the State continue to overload.

Recently, even the Telangana High Court in a judgment observed that “statistics placed on record and even otherwise, clearly demonstrate that the cause for major road accidents is overload(ing) of vehicles plying on the roads”.

When a vehicle is loaded with passenger or goods higher than permissible limits, the driver apparently cannot have complete control on its manoeuvring.

The chassis of the vehicle, axle and wheels may not sustain the pressure, noted Justice P. Naveen Rao of Telangana HC in the verdict.

“It is no more a lurking danger, but a reality of how overloading of vehicles causes havoc on the roads,” the judge observed. He even referred to a road accident reported on August 4 this year in Mahbubnagar district involving an auto-rickshaw. Thirteen labourers were travelling in that vehicle which had a carrying capacity of only six, the judge observed.