Daijworld Media Network - Tumakuru (SP)

Tumakuru, Oct 31: On account of recklessness on the part of an auto rickshaw driver, a bus went out of the control of its driver, and fell by its side in front of the government high school at Jetty Agrahara in Koratagere taluk on Wednesday October 30. In this accident, five passengers died and over 30 suffered injuries.

A private bus bearing the name, 'Vijayalaxmi' was moving at considerable speed on the highway from the direction of Jagannathapura. An auto rickshaw driver coming from a side road saw the bus approaching, but suddenly entered the highway without caring to stop. The bus driver tried to avoid the accident, but the bus went out of his control and tumbled down.

Imran (18) from Gerahalli, Akram Pasha (28) from Holavanahalli, Mohammed Sajid (19), Shivakumar from Pulamachihalli, and Srinivas (48) from Kodigenahalli died on the spot. The locals rescued over 30 passengers who were trying to come out of the bus, and admitted them into hospitals at Koratagere, Tumakuru and Bengaluru with the help of the police.

The K-ship state highway between Pavagada and Tumakuru is considered to be unscientific. The road sees lot of movement of high speed, low speed vehicles, three wheelers and bicycles. As such, children and school students who travel on this road face danger, the locals said.

Former deputy chief minister Dr G Parameshwar, Madhugiri MLA Veerabhdraiah, and Tumakuru deputy commissioner Rakesh Kumar and other officials visited the spot. Parameshwar accused transport department of being hand in glove with private bus operators and said that over speeding is causing accidents. He asked the government to announce compensation of five lac rupees to each of the families of the deceased and to meet treatment expenses of the injured. District in-charge minister Madhuswamy, said he has asked the deputy commissioner to check documents and licences of private buses running here. He said that an emergency meeting would be held on November 1 and steps to spread awareness to avoid accident would be taken. He added that he would request the chief minister to release compensation to the bereaved families during the cabinet meeting.