Udupi: Recklessly driven bus rams into scooter - Couple killed

Inchara Udupi
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi

Udupi, May 21: In yet another accident that brought to light the negligence of some bus drivers, a married couple was killed at Kaup when their Honda Activa was hit by a bus on NH 66.

The accident occured near the bypass road beside old Marigudi Temple, Kaup here on Tuesday May 21.

The deceased have been identified as Balakrishna Shetty (50) and his wife Mamata Shetty (40), residents of Tenkukere Hosamane, Padu village.

Balakrishna Shetty and Mamata Shetty, who are survived by three young sons, used to run a provisions store at Kurkalu Subhash Nagar.

Balakrishna Shetty died on the spot, while his wife breathed her last on way to the hospital. As the Volvo bus blocked the road after the accident, traffic was affected at the spot for a long time.

The couple was were moving towards their house in Koppalangady along with fruits and flowers in connection with a puja they wanted to perform at Kaup Hosa Marigudi on Tuesday, when the accident occurred.

When they were nearing the old Marigudi Temple, the driver of a KSRTC Volvo bus, in a bid to overtake a tanker, rammed into Activa.

The driver of the bus is said to have been driving recklessly.

Sadly, as Kaup's 108 ambulance has broken down, there was no government ambulance available to rush the couple to hospital. Also, it is said that passersby too did not come to the couple's rescue, and despite being critically injured, no help came for about 30 minutes.

Former MLA Lalaji visited the spot. Kaup police inspector Archana K also arrived.

A case has been registered in Kaup police station.

Accident at Padubidri - Three dead

In another accident reported at Beedu, Padubidiri on Tuesday May 21, three persons were killed when a tanker rammed into their Maruti 800 car.

The deceased have been identified as Satish Kumar (45), Aruna Rai and her husband Sathish Rai.

Aruna Rai was the secretary of Majoor gram panchayat.

They were on their way from Kaup to Kumble in Kasargod from where the couple orginally hailed. They had built a house there and were going to attend a function.

The accident occured when a tanker plying from Mangalore to Udupi rammed into their car, killing Satish Kumar on the spot.

Satish Kumar and Sathish Rai were colleagues at Lemina Foundry, Nitte. Sathish and Aruna had bought flowers for the house warming ceremony being organized on Wednesday by Aruna’s father at Kidoor, Kumble, and was travelling to Kumble with Kumar.

The couple, who were provided initial treatment at Padubidri before being moved to Mangalore, died on way to Mangalore. Eyewitnesses said their chances of survival would have been brighter, had the ambulance service and advanced medical attention been provided promptly.

The couple’s son, Sanat Rai, a mechanical engineering student at Nitte, is attending final examination of his fourth semester at present.

Padubidri station house officer, Mahadeva Setti, registered a case. Kaup police circle inspector, Shivanand Walikar, has taken up investigation.