Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur
Kundapur, Dec 9: A bike rider lost his life on the spot after colliding with a gas transport vehicle near Arate Bridge on National Highway 66 close to Mullikatte.
The deceased has been identified as Ranjith Ballal, son of K B Yuvaraj Ballal, originally from Mangaluru and currently residing in Bengaluru.
The accident occurred around 4 pm on Monday, December 9. Ranjith Ballal was riding his BMW bike from Goa towards Mangaluru when the mishap happened. Repairs on the Arate Bridge for the past two weeks have reportedly made the area a hazardous zone on the highway.
Despite wearing a helmet, the intensity of the collision led to Ranjith's death on the spot. With the assistance of locals, Ibrahim Gangolli and Abrar transported the victim to a private hospital in Kundapur using their ambulance.
Gangolli police have registered a case and initiated an investigation.
The public has expressed anger at the negligence of the National Highways Authority and IRB Infrastructure Developers, who have been accused of mismanaging highway maintenance. The chaotic state of National Highway 66 over the past year has reportedly led to several accidents, but the concerned authorities have failed to take corrective action.