Kushtagi (Koppal dist) / Bangalore, May 23 (DHNS) : True to his name, local legislator Amaregouda Linganagouda Bayyapur, 58, escaped the jaws of death for the third time after he escaped unhurt in Tuesday’s train collision in Penukonda, in the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
The news of the Hampi Express train accident left his supporters and residents of the taluk tense as the Congress legislator, his wife Shashikala Bayyapur, former legislator Hasansaab Dootihala and a few daily-wage workers from the taluk were travelling in the train.
The supporters heaved a sigh of relief only after the legislator called up to inform them that they were safe.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Bayyapur said he boarded the train at 8.30 pm on Monday at Koppal. The MLA was travelling in an AC coach, which was the fourth compartment behind the engine.
“I was sleeping, when I heard a loud noise at 3.15 am and saw people panicking and screaming. I knew the train had rammed into something. I got out of the train and walked ahead. Due to the impact of the collision, the first bogie separated from the engine and was thrown over it.
A lot of smoke was emnating and the people in the bogie had no way of getting out as the bogie was thrown very high. We were also forced to watch helplessly, until the rescue team arrived,” he recalled.
Bayyapur said the rescue teams arrived after 30 minutes and he watched eight to 10 bodies being removed from the bogie. “I had no opportunity to contribute or be of any help as it was very dark. My wife and I stayed there till 6 am and hired a private taxi to Bangalore,” he said.
Thrice lucky
This is the third time Bayyapura is escaping unhurt in an accident.
Two years ago, the legislator was travelling in a helicopter with former deputy chief minister M P Prakash, when the chopper lost communication with the air traffic control (ATC) due to unfavourable weather conditions. The news had led to panic as the chopper had remained untraceable for a while.
More recently, a private aircraft that was ferrying a group of legislators from the State for a study skidded off the runway before take-off in Jalandhar, Punjab, a year ago. Bayyapura’s wife was also in the aircraft at that time.