Daijiworld Media Network – Mysuru (EP)

Mandya, Nov 24: Nearly 30 people have perished in the bus tragedy at Karaganamaradi. It is said that steering lock was the cause of the accident.

The Panchalingeshwara bus with registration number KA19 5676 was on its way from Pandavapura to Mandya. When the bus was on Chikkabyadarahalli-Kanaganamaradi road it plunged in the rivulet. Bus passengers who could not come out of the bus have died in the water.

Lohith, sixth standard student, one of the two people who had a miraculous escape, says that the bus fell in the water as the steering got locked. Girish, a man who is alive after the gruesome mishap said that he was sitting at the back of the bus. “The bus all of a sudden started falling in the rivulet and water started entering the bus. I broke the window panes as the bus was falling. I later came out and reached the shore by swimming,” he says.

“As Lohith also was on the water surface, I rescued him also. But Anjaneya deity saved me. Nearby people came rushing after our screams. There were 15 people from our village alone. I lost all of them in front of my eyes. Bus conductor came out alive. He came out swimming and later fled,” said Girish.

Women were present in large numbers: “The mishap occurred as the steering got locked. Local people came rushing within ten minutes and tried to rescue us. But water was about one foot above the bus,” said Girish.

Those who witnessed the accident said that there were no issues on the road. “The road also was broad. There were no curves. When the bus reached the rivulet the steering got locked. Therefore, driver lost control and the bus fell in the water due to his negligence,” says an eye witness.

The bus with the name Rajkumar is registered in Mangaluru and is owned by bus owner Srinivas. The bus was registered in 2001. Its fitness certificate was valid till May 15, next year. The tax was paid till November 30 this year. The bus has valid insurance.

An atmosphere of gloom in the village

“There were five school children and a large number of women in the bus. Fifteen passengers were from Pandavapura. An atmosphere of gloom prevails in the village,” said Girish.

Chief Minister sheds tears

Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy who rushed to the spot after getting information, wept after hearing cries of people looking at the dead bodies kept in a line. He announced a compensation of Rs five lacs each to the families of those who have died. Former chief minister Siddaramaiah and several other political leaders have started visiting the spot. Prime Minister Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi too have expressed their grief regarding the tragic incident.