Daijiworld Media Network - Karkala (SP)

Karkala, Mar 1: A private bus deviated from its path and barged into a roadside shop on Tuesday February 28. This accident happened near Agumbe Guddekeri in Thirthahalli taluk. While the driver reportedly had suffered heart attack thereby causing this accident, confirmation is awaited. 19 passengers survived fortunately with minor nicks and cuts in this accident.

The bus in question was moving towards Shivamogga from Udupi when it met with this accident. The deceased driver has been identified as Srikanta (55) from Kulur in Thirthahalli taluk of Shivamogga district. Passengers whose nature of injuries were a little serious, were admitted into the local hospital.

The bus was moving at considerable speed when it suddenly swerved from the road and entered the shop owned by Padmanabha Manjar at Guddekeri. The bus then crashed into the compound of a house next to the shop, which is owned by J S Hegde. The shop received most of the impact of this accident. The bus was thoroughly damaged in the accident. A motor bike that was parked near the shop and various items were destroyed when the bus plowed into them.

It is learnt that driver of the bus, Srikanta, had complained of chest pain when having lunch at a hotel at Agumbe. He had stopped eating food midway because of chest pain, a local said. Some feel that the chest pain would have been the advance warning about the impending heart attack, and the driver would have suffered massive heart attack when driving the bus, giving rise to this accident.