Pramesh S Jain & Thomas (Special correspondent)
Atleast eight people were killed and 25 others injured when an overcrowded private bus heading towards Tumakuru turned turtle on Saturday morning.
The bus driver was reportedly speeding and lost control of the wheel while negotiating a curve at Palavalli Katte near Pavagada in Tumakuru district.
The bus was heading to Pavadada from Hosakote with more than 80 passengers on board, said traffic police.
What compounded the tragedy was that it was over-crowded with people hanging out of the doors,clinging on to the ladder at the back and sitting on its roof.
When the bus turned turtle, they were flung out into the thorny bushes along the road,the police added.
Most of the passengers in the bus were students or people going to work.
The driver and the conductor escaped soon after the accident. One of the passengers travelling in the bus called his relatives in the nearby village to alert them.
Soon after, villagers arrived at the spot and shifted the injured to Pavagada, Tumakuru and other hospitals in Bengaluru. Both the driver and the conductor who survived in the accident fled the scene.
Home minister araga Jnanendra who is also the district incharge minister ordered for a detailed probe on the incident.
Expressing grief over the incident, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu in a tweet said, “Deeply anguished to hear about the loss of lives in a bus accident in Tumkur, Karnataka. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured.
Saddened over the news,BJP leader P Muralidhar Rao tweeted,My heart goes to the families who have lost their loved ones due to bus accident at Pavagada, Karnataka.
I pray for the speedy recovery of those who are injured.
It is not the first time that the state has reported a fatal accident. In 2018, at least 30 passengers were killed after a bus plunged into a canal in the Mandya district of Karnataka.
The incident happened at the VC canal of the Cauvery river in Kanaganamaradi village of the Pandavapura taluk. Most of the deceased were school students.
Meanwhile, the Comptroller Auditor General of India (CAG) for 2020-21 released a report on March 16, saying that the roads in Bengaluru city are far more dangerous than state and national highways in Karnataka he added.
Transport Minister B. Sreeramulu said that stringent action would be taken against the persons responsible.
Speaking to media representatives at his home office in Ballari on March 19, the Minister said that eight persons died and over 25 sustained injuries in the accident.
“We have dispatched a team of senior officers to the accident spot. Apart from a thorough inquiry into the incident to ascertain the exact cause, we would also check whether the vehicle had a valid fitness certificate, insurance cover, permit and other statutory requirements. Based on the inquiry report, we will take stringent action against the persons responsible,” Mr. Sreeramulu said.
“No government buses are plying in the area. I have learnt that the State-owned transport corporations are not operating their buses even after repeated requests by the people. We will consider the option of cancelling the permits of all private buses in the area and start operations of government buses,” Mr. Sreeramulu said, adding that compensation to the victims would be paid after discussing the matter with the Chief Minister.
Former Lok Sabha member from Ballari J. Shantha and former MLA Suresh Babu were present.
