Four people were seriously injured following a two-car collision on Avathi Flyover near Devanahalli in Bengaluru Rural district on Friday. It was a major accident and caused traffic to become jammed and people to be unable to drive for hours, officials said.
The accident involved a Hyundai car and a Mahindra car, according to initial reports. The Hyundai car was so strong that it crossed the road divider and ended up on the opposite carriageway, causing chaos on one of Karnataka’s busiest highways to erupt.
They said four people in the vehicles suffered serious injuries in the crash. Residents and passersby rushed to the area after the accident and notified emergency services, residents said. The people who were injured in the accident were taken to hospitals.
The incident occurred on Avathi Flyover, Devanahalli Taluk of Bengaluru Rural District. This area falls under the jurisdiction of Vijayapura Police Station, and its personnel arrived on the spot soon after the accident took place.
Witnesses described hearing a loud crash before seeing both vehicles badly damaged. The Hyundai car had huge damage after it had reportedly crossed the median divider, while the Mahindra vehicle had huge damage from impact.
The road traffic on NH-44, the key national highway connecting Bengaluru with many northern and southern destinations, was virtually paralysed after the accident. There were long lines of cars standing at both sides of the flyover as police and rescue workers worked to clear up all the debris and restore normal traffic flow.
Motorists travelling along the stretch encountered delays as the authorities diverted vehicles, helped with traffic and reduced congestion. Traffic police were on duty in the area to control vehicle movement and prevent secondary accidents in the vicinity of the road.
The identities of the victims are yet to be disclosed by the officials. Medical teams are currently assessing the injured individuals, and further information about the extent of the injuries is not yet released, but medical teams will be able to assess the severity of their injuries once they are fully evaluated by representatives of the medical staff. The hospital team is monitoring their health status, and more details about the extent of the injuries are to be released in the future after a full assessment has been done by healthcare professionals.
Police have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident. Preliminary investigations are into vehicle speed, driver error, road conditions, and mechanical problems. CCTV images from nearby areas are also expected to be examined, and eyewitnesses’ accounts will be collected.
Experts say that flyovers and highway corridors need to be extremely careful for drivers in high-speed lanes, especially in areas with traffic. High speed, sudden lane changes, distracted driving, and the failure to keep vehicles safe from each other are among the top causes of accidents on national highways.
The accident has once again raised concerns about road safety on NH-44, with heavy vehicles moving through the area every day. Residents have called for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and greater awareness among motorists to reduce the risk of serious accidents.
Drivers are also advised to keep to the speed limit and be cautious while driving on highways and flyovers. Police officials stated that a detailed report will be prepared after the investigation is concluded.
The injured were treated and are recovering from the accident, but it is another reminder that road safety precautions must be taken at all times to prevent tragic accidents on India's busy highways.
