Kundapur: Accident at Tekkatte: Two Customs Officials Killed

Pics: Vinaya Pais
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Oct 13: In a macabre accident that occurred at around 4.30 am on Tuesday October 13 near Karikal Katte in Tekkatte in the taluk on national highway 17,  two persons died on the spot.

A jeep of the customs department that was moving towards Kundapur and a KSRTC bus that was bound for Mangalore from Hubli, were involved in the accident. Customs department official Dineshkumar Sepai (46) and the jeep driver, N H Bhandary (58) died on the spot. The jeep was mangled beyond recognition due to the impact of the collision, while the front portion of the bus too suffered damages in the accident.

It is learnt that the customs officials were returning after visiting Bangalore for official work. They had dropped Ravindra Pai, the other customs official who had accompanied them to Bangalore, at Saligrama in Udupi taluk.

Karikal Katte area has become notorious for accidents of late, as oncoming vehicles are not spotted by the drivers because of the huge trees standing on either side of the road at this bend. It may be recalled that in a similar accident, a boy had died and 20 passengers were injured, when a KSRTC bus and a tourist bus had collided with each other four months ago at this spot.

The Kota policemen have registered a case and commenced investigations.