Daijiworld Media Network - Hassan (SP)
Hassan, Jan 14: The macabre accident involving a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation's (KSRTC) Volvo Airavat bus that occurred in the early hours of Saturday January 13 appears to have been caused because of foggy weather which had affected the view of the driver.
The accident happened after the driver of the bus, which had left Bengaluru for Dharmasthala at 11.45 pm, lost control over his vehicle at 3.30 am on Saturday due to thick fog. The bus fell into a roadside ditch after smashing the protective metal barricade of the bridge on the left side of national highway 75 close to agricultural college near Karekere in the district.
Rakesh Prabhu, Bijo George, Sonia & Diana
Bijo George (27), Diana (20) and Sonia (27) from Gundibagilu in Beltangady taluk. Rakesh Prabhu (26) from Kanyadi, Dharmasthala, Gangadhar (55) from Bengaluru, bus driver, Shivappa Chalavadi (42) and conductor, Laxman (45), lost their lives in this accident. The body of another female passenger is yet to be identified. Injured persons were shifted to NDRK private hospital at Hassan, medical college hospital in the city, and hospitals at Bengaluru and Mangaluru depending upon the type and gravity of injuries.
The bus had 44 passengers and the road condition was good at the accident spot. Therefore, the police presume that foggy conditions would have blurred the driver's vision, causing the accident. The driver, who had put in nine years of service in KSRTC, had an impeccable record with no accidents in his career so far. It is said that the bus was moving at 59 km per hour speed at the time of the accident and it was in good condition with its fitness certificate valid till April this year. The driver had been newly posted on this route.
As the bus plunged into the ditch head-on, its front portion was completely mangled. The bus was lifted out of the ditch with the help of multiple cranes. Many of the deceased were doctors, software engineers, medical professionals, etc. Several of them were bound for hometown on account of three-day weekend.
The accident would have claimed more lives but for the efforts put in by a passenger, Kishore, who came out by reaching the driver's seat, climbed to the road and shouted for help. Several people moving by the road extended a helping hand in rescue operation. Ambulances from the city too rushed to the spot thereafter.
District superintendent of police, Rahul Kumar Shapuravad, visited the spot along with senior officials. The officials also visited hospitals.
State transport minister, H M Rvanna, has announced compensation of three lac rupees to the families of the deceased. He said that treatment expenses of the injured would be borne by the government.