In Surgut, reports say bus riders endured a 40-minute wait while the driver paused to pray. The information comes from a Telegram channel named PE Surgut. A passenger described the moment, saying they were on bus number 18 and, at the Altın Balık stop, the driver stepped off the vehicle to pray. The wait stretched to about 39 minutes before the bus resumed service. One passenger remarked, I prayed and set out, highlighting the personal interruption to the journey.
There was no clear indication that the driver issued a warning to passengers about the religious pause or that the delay would last as long as 40 minutes. At the time of reporting, the bus company had not released an official statement addressing the incident.
Earlier episodes in St. Petersburg showed drivers stopping to pray during trips. A video captured one driver standing on the sidewalk, and the St. Petersburg Transportation Committee noted that schedules include built in breaks for prayer. They stressed that religious observances must occur only during a halt between trips, not while the bus is in motion or immediately between stops.
In another report, two immigrants were seen arguing in a crowded minibus in Tula, underscoring how tension and delays can unfold in public transport in crowded city conditions.