Bengaluru Traffic Police find 36 school van drivers drunk; parents raise safety concerns
Bengaluru: A special drive conducted by the Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) to check school van drivers for alcohol consumption has revealed that 36 drivers tested positive, sparking serious concerns among parents and school authorities.
According to a report by The New Indian Express published on Sunday, the inspection held on October 24 covered 5,881 school vans across the city.
Menaka Reddy, Coordinator of the Parents Association Bengaluru East Corridor, said nine of the drivers who tested positive worked for schools in Bellandur and Domlur.
“We are working with the traffic department to ensure school managements conduct routine checks and counsel drivers regularly,” TNIE quoted her as saying.
Parent groups and schools have reaffirmed a zero-tolerance policy towards rash driving and alcohol use among drivers. One private school in the city said it strictly monitors drivers before every trip and dismisses anyone found under the influence of alcohol, adding that it maintains extra vigilance after long weekends or holidays.
N. Yogananda, General Secretary of the RTE Students and Parents Association, alleged that mandatory police verification of school staff, as required under a 2015 order, is often overlooked. He highlighted that if these instructions had been followed strictly, such incidents could have been avoided.
DCP (Traffic-East) Anup Shetty confirmed that notices have been issued to school authorities whose drivers tested positive. “The Regional Transport Office (RTO) has also been asked to suspend the licences of those drivers. “If a driver is found drunk, we inform the school to arrange an alternative, or we do so ourselves to ensure children reach safely,” TNIE quoted Shetty as saying.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Dr. Thumbay Moideen featured in Entrepreneur Middle East 100 NRI’s of the year
Dubai: Dr. Thumbay Moideen, Founder of Thumbay Group has been featured in this year's “The 100 NRIs by Entrepreneur Middle East.”
The annual feature recognises 100 prominent Non-Resident Indian entrepreneurs from diverse fields. Other notable names on the list include Zakariya Jokatte, Ashish Koshy, Deepak Babani, Pankaj Kundr, Faizal E. Kottikollon, Dr. Vivek Oberoi, and Prashant Goenka.
Dr. Thumbay Moideen, son of the late community leader B. Ahmed Haji Mohiudeen, is a prominent alumnus of St. Aloysius College, Mangaluru. He has earned widespread recognition in the UAE and beyond for his contributions to higher education and healthcare. He is also a recipient of the Karnataka State Rajyotsava Award 2025.
View this post on Instagram
In 1997, Dr. Moideen founded the Thumbay Group, a diversified international conglomerate that has expanded into health education, healthcare services, and medical research. In 1998, he became the first Indian invited by the rulers of Ajman to establish a medical college in the UAE, which has now grown into a university with its own network of hospitals, clinics, medical centers, and pharmacies across the country.
Dr. Moideen’s achievements have been recognised in respected publications, including Forbes Middle East and Arabian Business. He has also received an Honorary Fellowship from the International Medical Sciences Academy (IMSA) and an honorary doctorate from Amity University.
Today, Thumbay Group institutions cater to students and healthcare professionals from over 100 nationalities, contributing to workforce development and research-driven healthcare practices. Dr. Moideen is widely regarded as one of the most influential Non-Resident Indians in the Gulf, a respected voice from the Beary community, and a leading Muslim entrepreneur and educationist.
Over the past decades, he has steered Thumbay Group’s expansion into a multi-sector organisation focusing on academic medicine, research-led healthcare, and global education. His initiatives have created opportunities for thousands of healthcare professionals and students while strengthening healthcare delivery systems and academic collaboration across regions.
