The tragic road accident on the Hubballi-Solapur Highway in Bagalkot district of Karnataka claimed two KSRTC passengers’ lives and injured several others after a lorry lost control and collided with a state-run bus.
The accident happened near Anagawadi village in Bilagi taluk of Bagalkot district, close to the KEB office on the busy national highway. The crash raised passengers’ fears, and the traffic on the route came to a halt for a few minutes as officials rushed to the site to help with the rescue.
A lorry moving on the highway apparently went out of the driver’s control before crashing into a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus. The impact caused extensive damage to the bus, particularly the rear part, where several passengers were sitting.
Both passengers who were in the rear of the bus suffered fatal injuries and died on the spot, officials said. The two deceased passengers were identified as Vani Desai and Shivakumar Kadlivad, and their family members and fellow passengers were shocked.
The other passengers in the crash were also injured, in addition to those who were injured. Initial reports indicate that four to five people were injured in the accident. Some of the injuries were reported to be of varying degrees of injury, with four to five people identified as needing immediate medical attention. Residents and emergency workers rushed to assist the victims after the crash, and emergency officials quickly responded to the crash.
Police and ambulance personnel arrived at the site shortly after information about the accident was received. First aid was given to the injured passengers, and they were transferred to Bagalkot District Hospital for further treatment. Doctors are monitoring the condition of the injured persons, the officials said.
The road was totally blocked after the collision with traffic, and the rescue operation was underway to pick up the drivers. A police force worked to clear the vehicles and then reopened the road from which the accidents happened, and the traffic is moving.
Other senior police officers, including the Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) of Bagalkot, visited the site of the accident and conducted an inspection. The damaged bus, the lorry involved in the collision, and other evidence were examined to determine the reasons for the collision.
From initial investigations, it is thought that the accident might have occurred once the lorry driver lost control of the vehicle, but the actual cause for the accident will be determined only after a thorough investigation, the authorities said. Factors such as vehicle speed, road conditions, driver fatigue, mechanical failure, and adherence to traffic rules are also to be examined.
Police will also record statements from eyewitnesses, passengers, and drivers to construct the sequence of events. Technical inspections of both vehicles may be carried out to rule out any mechanical defects.
The accident makes the road safety issue on the highway more imminent. Heavy-laden vehicles can be very dangerous in terms of the force of impact and the number of passengers involved.
A case has been registered at Bilagi Police Station, and more investigations are on. Based on the findings of the investigation, authorities have promised that appropriate legal action will be taken.
At least two lives have been taken, but the injured have been treated, and they are still alive and well, the police said.
