Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (RD)
Pics: Durga Digitals

Udupi, Feb 13: Tuesday February 12 witnessed an unusual swing in the weather.  The day began with the sun struggling to peep through the thick clouds that had encircled it.  It was only a little later that heaven opened up taking everyone by surprise.  The stray showers at Manipal, Kaup, Kundapur, Padubidri and other places cannot be termed as welcome showers not only because they were untimely but also because they brought no relief to the coastal region which is still shivering under the long 'standing' winter season.

The unexpected rains on Tuesday were no way liked by drivers who had to cope up with the slippery National Highway early in the morning.  Their failure in controlling the vehicles resulted in number of road accidents throughout the district on Tuesday.   A private express bus plying from Mangalore to Udupi skidded off the road near Udyavar Bridge at 9.25 am, however, with no casualty.  It was carrying maximum number of passengers who had a close shave after the bus stopped by the edge of the road after ramming into to a milestone by the roadside. The accident however resulted in traffic bottleneck till the Kaup police arrived with crane and cleared the road and restored normal traffic.

The passengers of ill-fated bus stated that they witnessed a collision of Tata Sumo and a truck at Katpady minutes before their bus rammed the milestone.  Another bus and auto rickshaw collided in front of Dandatheertha School.  Several motor cyclists lost grip on their two wheelers owing to the slippery NH and went off the road along the newly-laid road between Katpady and Padubidri.