As many as 20 school buses out of a total of 320 buses were found not roadworthy during an inspection by officials of various departments in Kallakurichi on Saturday (May 23, 2026).

The officials have instructed the school authorities to take remedial measures and bring the vehicles back for inspection to get a fitness certificate.

Collector M.S. Prasanth supervised the inspection under the Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicles (Regulation and Control of School Buses) Special Rules, 2012.

Officials from the district administration, transport and school education departments inspected the vehicles from 80 schools in Kallakurichi and Ulundurpet on the premises of a private school campus here.

The officials checked the vehicles for fire extinguishers, first-aid boxes, emergency exits, and speed governors. They also made sure that attenders were appointed in the buses to assist students in boarding and alighting.

Drivers will also be subjected to scrutiny and are required to have a minimum of five years of experience.

The school managements have been given a week’s time to set right shortcomings, an official said.