Report: U L Udaykumar
Pics: Arun Uppinangady
Daijiworld Media Network – Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Jul 2: In an accident involving a bus and two pick up trucks that occurred on Thursday July 1 afternoon at Kootelu Bridge near here, two cows among the cattle being illegally transported in one of the vehicles, succumbed. Two traffickers too were injured in the accident.

Reportedly, a KSRTC bus that was moving towards Kanchana Shantinagar from Uppinangady, was moving on Kootelu Bridge, when a speeding pickup truck, in an attempt to overtake another pickup truck, hit the bus. The other pick up vehicle hit the one in front of it.

Eyewitnesses said that out of four cows loaded on to the pickup van, two died on the spot, while two others scampered to safety, shocked by the incident. Abbas from Gadiyara village, who was driving the vehicle, was seriously injured and was shifted to Mangalore. The names of two other injured persons are yet to be ascertained. Although a few bus passengers were also hurt, their injuries were minor in nature, it is learnt.

Because of the accident, traffic on the bridge, a very important link on this route, came to a standstill. Timely intervention by the police ensured restoration of normal traffic soon.

Although those on the spot said that three persons with severe injuries were taken to hospitals for treatment, the police department said that it has not received any complaint till Thursday evening. It is suspected that the injured persons are unwilling to register any complaint, as it might expose them to the risk of being booked for illegal cattle trafficking.