Elderly Man Dragged by BRTS Bus at Surat

SURAT : A shocking incident at Surat’s busy Parvat Patiya BRTS junction has once again exposed serious safety failures in the city’s public transport system. An elderly passenger was dragged by a moving BRTS bus after his hand got trapped in the closing door while he was boarding. The horrifying incident, captured on video, has gone viral on social media, triggering widespread outrage and fresh questions over passenger safety.

The incident occurred during peak hours when hundreds of commuters were waiting for buses that had been delayed for a long time. As soon as a BRTS bus arrived, passengers rushed to board the overcrowded vehicle. Before everyone could get inside, the driver allegedly started the bus and shut the doors.

The elderly man’s hand became trapped in the door, dragging him for nearly two to three feet. In the chaos, two young passengers also lost their balance and fell on top of him. Fortunately, the driver stopped the bus immediately, preventing a major tragedy. No serious injuries were reported.

The viral video also shows passengers packed inside the bus, highlighting the severe overcrowding on the route.

Angry commuters blamed the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) for failing to increase the number of buses despite growing demand.

“Passengers are forced to wait for long periods every day. When a bus finally arrives, everyone rushes to board because they don’t know when the next one will come,” a regular commuter said.

Passengers also alleged that BRTS buses are frequently driven at high speed and, in some cases, with doors remaining open while in motion.

“Safety has taken a back seat. Overcrowding, reckless driving and delayed services have become routine. The authorities must act before lives are lost,” another passenger said.

The incident has revived concerns raised recently by former Surat Municipal Commissioner M. Thennarasan, who criticised officials over the shrinking BRTS fleet. He had pointed out that only around 600 buses are currently operating compared to nearly 900 during his tenure.

Following the viral video, commuters have demanded strict action against those responsible and urged the civic body to increase bus frequency, improve crowd management and enforce stringent safety protocols to prevent such incidents in the future.