Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Jan 16: In an incident which occurred near Sunrise bus stand at Katkere near Koteshwar in the taluk on the evening of Thursday January 15, a motorbike rider had a providential escape after his two-wheeler jumped into an under-construction drain that is being built in haphazard manner. The motorbike however, suffered major damage.

Niyaz (19) from Kalavara near Koteshwar was riding the motorbike in question. The motorbike was badly damaged, whereas Niyaz, with his timely maneuvering, escaped with minor injuries.

A drain is being built a little distance away from Sunrise bus stand at Katkere on Koteshwar-Halady Road. Although warning signals have been set up on both sides of the drain, these signs are located adjacent to the drain and there are no signs for warning vehicles approaching the area at high speed from a distance. Niyaz, who came on this road, and was moving towards Kalavara from Koteshwar, went straight ahead, without knowing that a drain was being laid on his way at this spot. As soon as his motorbike bumped into the pit dug for the drain, he fell on the other side, which eventually saved him from being hurt badly. His motorbike, which got into the drain, suffered heavy damages.

A 35 feet long, nine feet deep and four and half feet wide drain is being laid at the spot. There are allegations that although work on this drain began two days back, prominent road signs warning the oncoming traffic have not been put up. Sharp iron rods standing inside the drain invite accidents with catastrophic consequences.

The locals have condemned the casual attitude of those executing the drain work on the highway, without taking into account serious repercussions it can have on the gullible motorists who approach the site without having advance information about the ongoing work. They have urged the concerned to undertake remedial measures to make sure that they make the area safe for the vehicles and people.