from our special correspondent in Mala and Karkala (GA) - Thursday, 10-15 am
Karkala, Jan 12: The death toll in the Wednesday January 10 ghastly accident on Mala Ghat on Karkala - Kudremukh National Highway 13 has risen to 4 with the death of maxi cab driver Bhimanna Gowda Patil (35) of Byadagi, Rekha (16), a class X student and Shankaramma (15), a class IX student late in the evening on Wednesday.
The earlier reports in these columns had reported that one was killed and 16 were injured in the accident. While the headmaster Prasadimath had died on the spot, the driver and Rekha and died while taking to the hospital and Shankaramma died in the hospital.
The tragic accident has still left 4 students in critical condition. They are being treated in Wenlock Hospital at Mangalore. The details of the injured are yet to be finalized, said an unofficial source. The sources also said that 26 persons including the teachers and students have been injured in the accident. Even the bus driver has sustained minor injuries while the 30 passengers have escaped unscathed.
A two-year-old child, daughter of a teacher, had a providential escape in the accident with only a minor bruise on the forehead.
The Karkala rural police have registered a case in this regard.