Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady

Beltangady, Jan 29: A private bus traveling from Dharmasthala to Alandadka via Kadirudyavara met with an accident near Somantadka, Mundaje, on Tuesday.

The incident occurred in the evening when the bus, en route via Ujire and Mundaje, veered off the road and came to a halt in a roadside drain. The bus was carrying a large number of students, many of whom sustained minor injuries.

Ongoing national highway construction in the area has led to the installation of temporary drains. It is suspected that either a steering malfunction or brake failure caused the bus to hit the drain.

A house was located below the accident site, where children were playing in the yard. A greater tragedy was averted as the bus stopped just short of the house, preventing further damage and casualties.

Several students and passengers suffered injuries and were immediately rushed to a local hospital. The open iron reinforcements near the construction site posed an additional hazard, as two children fell into the drain through the broken front windshield. Fortunately, they were unharmed by the exposed iron bars, averting a major disaster.

Locals and highway construction workers quickly responded to the emergency and assisted in transporting the injured to the hospital.