Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady

Beltangady, May 31: A potentially major tragedy was narrowly averted after a container lorry collided with a mini bus carrying a family from Mudipu to Javagal at Seeth in Mundaje village on Saturday.

The mini bus was travelling towards Javagal when it was struck by a container lorry heading from the Chikkamagaluru side towards Ujire. The accident occurred when the lorry attempted to overtake a KSRTC bus that was en route from Kadur to Dharmasthala.

According to passengers in the mini bus , the container vehicle moved into the opposite lane while overtaking the KSRTC bus and crashed into the oncoming vehicle. Despite the impact, the lorry driver allegedly failed to stop and continued driving away from the scene.

The fleeing vehicle was later intercepted by members of the public near Ujire, where it was blocked and brought to a halt.

The mini bus driver, a woman passenger and a few others sustained minor injuries in the collision. No serious injuries were reported.

Passengers travelling in the mini bus credited the KSRTC driver’s quick thinking for preventing a far more devastating accident.

‘The KSRTC driver realised the danger when the container lorry attempted the overtake and immediately steered the bus to the extreme edge of the road. Had he not done so, the consequences could have been much worse,’ passengers said.

The incident has once again highlighted the dangers of reckless overtaking on busy roads, with those involved describing the escape from a major disaster as nothing short of fortunate.