Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)
Kundapur, Sep 20: A Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus went out of control of its driver before smashing into the under-construction bridge at Trasi beach on national highway 66 at around 3 am on Tuesday September 20. In the accident, which happened reportedly when the driver was trying to overtake a truck, five persons including two drivers of the bus suffered serious injuries. About 15 passengers of the bus also sustained injuries of different degrees.
Those who suffered grave injuries in this accident happen to be Jeevan Sab (41) from Kotanguchchi in Gadag district, who was driver-cum-conductor of the bus, another driver, Eshwar (24) from Badami, and passengers, Basavaraj (24) from Mogerihone in Shirahatti taluk, Yallappa (40) from Gadag, and Veeresh (28) from Kalasa in Gadag district. All of them except Veeresh have been admitted into Chinmayi Hospital in the town, while Veeresh was taken to Manipal Hospital as he needed advanced treatment.
The bus, which was going to Mangaluru from Gadag, was driven by Eshwar till Byndoor. After having tea at a hotel at Byndoor, Jeevan Sab took over the wheel. When the bus was moving on beach road between Maravanthe and Trasi, the driver overtook a truck that was ahead. Once the bus overtook the truck, the driver lost control over the vehicle, as a result of which the bus veered to extreme left and directly hit a bridge that is under construction. 24x7 Helpline activists from Gangolli immediately responded to the tragedy and helped in shifting the injured to hospital.
Those who visited the site of the accident and others in the bus concurred that the bridge by the side of the national highway was the saving grace which averted the incident from turning into a major disaster. If there was no obstacle, the bus would have directly plunged into River Sauparnika, they point out, as a result of which over 30 passengers of the bus would have met watery grave.
Gangolli police have registered a case. Police have shifted people with less injuries to different hospitals for treatment.