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India Today TV had shown how, in the name of sleeper buses, greedy operators were turning these vehicles into moving death traps, openly flouting rules meant to ensure passenger safety. In some buses, so-called emergency gates were merely a façade, while in others, fire extinguishers and emergency hammers were missing.
After India Today TV expose, Jaipur transport department cracks down on unsafe sleeper buses
New Delhi,UPDATED: Jan 13, 2026 16:04 IST
After reports highlighting open violations of safety norms in sleeper buses operating in Jaipur were aired, the Transport Department swung into action from early this morning.
The department’s vigilance team carried out inspections throughout the day, issuing challans to dozens of buses and seizing several of them.
India Today TV had shown how, in the name of sleeper buses, greedy operators were turning these vehicles into moving death traps, openly flouting rules meant to ensure passenger safety. In some buses, so-called emergency gates were merely a faade, while in others, fire extinguishers and emergency hammers were missing.
Following the publishing of this report, raids by the Jaipur Transport Department’s vigilance team continued on sleeper buses across the city.
This bus was travelling from Ahmedabad to Jaipur. When the transport department’s vigilance team stopped and inspected it, officials were shocked to find that the emergency gate had been completely blocked with luggage. The aisle inside the bus was also choked with goods. The second emergency gate was similarly blocked by a seat.
The bus belongs to Parsvanath Travels and is owned by Yasmin Khan of Ahmedabad. After deboarding the passengers, the bus was seized and taken to the transport department yard, where a case will be registered against the owner.
This second bus was travelling from Bhuj to Jaipur. Both emergency gates had seats installed in front of them. The bus was challaned, and the vigilance team took action against it as well.
Another bus seized from Sindhi Camp was found to have emergency gates visible from the outside, but inside, both emergency exits were completely blocked by four sleeper seats.
Several buses were also found to have illegal luggage carriers mounted on their roofs. These were dismantled and removed by the vigilance team.
Meanwhile, when questioned about India Today’s sting operation exposing sleeper buses flouting safety norms, Rajasthan Transport Minister Prem Chand Bairwa said, "We are not allowing such modified buses to operate. We have stopped these buses."
After recent bus fire incidents in Rajasthan made headlines, safety standards have been tightened. Following Aaj Tak’s campaign, emergency gates and fire extinguishers have been installed in almost all sleeper buses.
However, some buses - especially those arriving from Uttar Pradesh - still have emergency exits blocked by sleeper seats.
Widespread non-compliance with safety protocols came to light after at least 30 people died in sleeper bus fires in Jaisalmer and Jaipur.
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Inputs from Devinder Singh
Published By:
Sayan Ganguly
Published On:
Jan 13, 2026
English (US) ·