Pics: Kishore BC Road

Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, Oct 5: In an accident which occurred near Manihalla on national highway 234 near here, a bike rider lost his life after having been knocked down by a bus on Tuesday, October4.

The victim was Sushant Rai, son of Janardhana Rai from Kodenjaru in Pilatabettu village in the taluk. Sushant was going towards Dharmasthala from the direction of the town when this accident occurred.

It is gathered that the killer bus operated by Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, was trying to overtake a vehicle when it hit the motor bike coming from the opposite direction. Both the driver and conductor of the bus fled immediately after the accident. Sushant came under the wheels of the bus and was badly injured. He died when the locals were taking him to the government hospital in the town.

Complaining that recklessness on the part of the driver and excessive speed of the bus had caused the accident, people squatted on the road to register their protest, and stopped the bus from being removed. As tension spread, rural station sub-inspector, A K Rakshith Gowda, town station sub-inspector, Nandakumar, and traffic sub-inspector, Chandrashekharaiah, rushed there and succeeded in convincing the people to relent. Thereafter, vehicles were moved aside and traffic was restored.

Sushant's parents are from Sakleshpur, and have been residing at Pilatabettu after constructing a house there. Sushant was employed with Hindustan Soap Pvt Ltd here, and had married last year. It is gathered that his wife is in the family way and expected to deliver soon.