29 School Bus Drivers Caught Drunk While Carrying Students in Kerala Crackdown

In a major enforcement drive across four districts in Kerala, police have booked 29 drivers of school and college buses for driving under the influence of alcohol. The operation, conducted under the code name 'Operation Toofan' on Monday (July 13, 2026), was aimed at ensuring student safety during transportation.

The arrested drivers were found to be intoxicated while operating vehicles carrying students in the Ernakulam Range, which includes Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Idukki districts. According to police, cases have been registered under the Motor Vehicles Act and legal proceedings have been initiated against all offenders.

During the special drive, authorities inspected 3,333 drivers attached to 1,231 educational institutions. The highest number of violations were recorded in Ernakulam Rural and Alappuzha, where seven and nine drivers respectively were found drunk. In Idukki and Kottayam, seven and six drivers were caught.

Police have directed the respective schools and colleges to immediately remove the guilty drivers from service. Deputy Inspector General of Police Yathish Chandra G.H stated, 'Violations which endanger the safety of students will not be tolerated under any circumstances.' He added that similar enforcement drives would continue unannounced in the coming days.

School managements and vehicle owners have been advised to ensure that drivers employed for student transportation possess the required qualifications, are physically fit, and comply with all statutory and safety requirements. The operation highlights ongoing efforts to improve road safety for students in Kerala.