Daijiworld Media Network - Madikeri (SP)

Madikeri, Jul 4: Four persons, who were travelling in a Maruti Omni van, died on the spot after their vehicle was hit by a speeding Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus on Sunday July 3 afternoon. The incident occurred at Mugutageri near Ponnampet, where the road is smooth, because of which the vehicles were moving at considerable speed.

P M Harris (32), who was driving the van, and Siraj (30), both from Napoklu Kallumotte, Ummer (40), a native of Napoklu Bethu village, and Aisamma (38), a resident of Ponnampet Halligattu village, lost their lives in this accident. Ibrahim, his wife, Shafila, and son, Salman, suffered serious injuries. After providing first aid at Ponnampet, they were rushed to Mysore for advanced treatment. Pasmia, daughter of Ibrahim, sustained minor injuries to her leg, and there is no danger for her life.

The van was moving to Manandavadi inKerala for treating three-year-old daughter of Ibrahim, Pasmia, when tragedy struck. The relatives were moving towards their destination after having lunch in the house of Aisamma in Halligattu. Harris, Ummer and Siraj, who were in the front of the van, suffered injuries to their heads and faces. The van was mangled beyond reconition. The KSRTC bus was reportedly trying to overtake another jeep, when its driver noticed the Omni. He could not avert the accident, as it was too late. Driver of the bus, identified as Haralaiah, escaped from the spot immediately after the accident.

The locals, who rushed to the spot to help the victims, found it hard to extricate them from the mangled vehicle. The front portion of the Omni has been completeldy destroyed.

Even the deceased Siraj, Ummer and Aisamma were the relatives of Ibrahim.