Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Nov 20: In a tragic incident that took place at Kadri Kambala road here on Thursday November 20, an accident victim lay waiting for help for over half an hour, despite the presence of locals and the police at the spot.

The accident was a case of hit-and-run. It is said that an auto rickshaw in a bid to overtake hit the person who was riding a two-wheeler. The rider lost control and fell off the road, while the rickshaw driver sped away.

The rider, whose identity is not yet known, was badly injured on his right leg.

Though he was unable to move and kept calling for help, no one came to his rescue at first. The accident only came to light when a passer-by saw him lying helpless in a ditch. Soon, locals gathered at the spot and the police were also informed.

Though some of the people offered to help, the police who arrived in around 10 minutes reportedly forbade the locals to touch or help the accident victim, saying that he had broken his right leg and hence it would not be feasible to take him to hospital by private means of transport or auto rickshaw. They also said that the ambulance service was informed and it would be there shortly.

Meanwhile, the injured man continued to call for help and waiting for the ambulance. Incidentally, the spot is just a few hundred metres away from a hospital. Some of the locals expressed concerns that if this was the response to an accident in the city limits, the case may perhaps be worse in rural areas. They also said that the police should have allowed them to help the victim or taken him to hospital themselves, rather than wait for the ambulance.

After a long wait, the ambulance finally arrived and the injured person was shifted to Wenlock.