Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Mar 30: In an accident that occurred at Nadsal Boodu in Padubidri in the district on national highway 17 on Monday March 29 between a bus and a Maruti car, a person travelling in the car lost his life, while four others sustained injuries.

The bus was moving to Mangalore from Kollur. The Martuti car was bound for Manipal from Mangalore. All the five persons in the car were from Manipal and nearby places. Sridhar Nayak (45), who served as driver, was critically injured in the accident. He died on his way to the hospital.

The car owner, Srikant Bhat, who owns buffalo pairs participating in Kambala, was returning home after taking part in Talapady Kambala. The conditions of both Srikant Bhat and his friend, Sudhakar Shetty, are stated to be critical. In the case of other two injured persons, Ashit Bhat is responding to treatments, while Sukumar is being treated in a hospital near Padubidri.

Padubidri police station house officer, Mohan Kottary, said that traffic block had occurred on the highway because of the accident, and that the road was cleared with the help of a crane. Home guards officials from Padubidri too took part in the relief operations.

No one in the bus was hurt. The car was mangled beyond recognition, and this created impediment in taking out those trapped inside the car. Local people helped the policemen in this task, it is gathered. A case in this connection was registered in Padubidri police station.