Inchara Udupi
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi

Udupi, Jan 19: In a tragic incident, a four-year-old child was crushed under a bus near Shirva mosque here late evening on Tuesday January 19.

The deceased has been identified as Mahin Taj, daughter of Javed Badshah and Parveen Taj from Shirva, who reside in Mysuru. A few days ago, the parents left their daughter at her grandparents' house in Shirva.

On Tuesday, at around 7 pm, the grandparents along with Mahin Taj were waiting near Shirva mosque to catch a bus to Moodubelle. When a bus halted where they were waiting, they asked the conductor if the bus went to Moodubelle, to which he replied in the negative. Almost at the same time, the driver stepped on the accelarator and the bus moved forward, running over the child who was standing nearby, sources said.

Mahin Taj was rushed to a local hospital, but she breathed her last on the way.

The body was sent to Shirva health centre for post-mortem, but the doctors initially refused to conduct the procedure, which irked the locals. Kaup SI Sunil Naik then intervened and managed to persuade the doctors, after which the post-mortem was done.

Sources said that due to shortage of staff in Shirva health centre, doctors are rarely available in emergency situations here. When health minister U T Khader recently visited the hospital, he noted the shortage of staff and assured that doctors would be appointed immediately. However, no action has been taken so far, complained the locals.

The body was handed over to the family after post-mortem and later sent to Mysuru.

Shirva police have registered a case.