Daijiworld Media Network – Moodbidri (MS)

Moodbidri, Nov 12: A private bus collided with a scooter near an engineering college at Mijaru Todar on NH 169, leaving the scooter rider and pillion rider seriously injured on Monday morning. Enraged locals, joined by students, pelted stones at the bus and staged a protest, even boarding the bus in their agitation.

The protest lasted for three hours, with the public and students demanding strict action against the reckless driving of private bus operators. The injured, identified as Sumitra (rider) and Saanvi (pillion rider), sustained severe injuries. It is reported that an auto-rickshaw arriving at the scene immediately after the accident prevented the bus from moving further, potentially saving the lives of other students standing nearby.

The bus, traveling from Moodbidri to Mangaluru, lost control at the turn near MITE College, first hitting a college bus before veering off the highway and colliding with the scooter. Leaders from HJV, BJP, and other organizations arrived at the spot, demanding strict action against the bus driver.

Rafiq, the owner of the bus, assured compensation of Rs five lac for the injured and promised to suspend the negligent driver. Panambur ACP Srikant, who also arrived at the scene, stated that both the bus conductor and driver would be charged and that a meeting would be convened soon to address public grievances about reckless driving by private buses. Following these assurances, the protest was called off. The driver, identified as Nizam, has been taken into police custody.