Dharwad: A tragic accident claimed the life of a 17-year-old first PUC student after she was allegedly crushed between a reversing state transport bus and a wall at the old bus stand in Dharwad on Friday.
The deceased was Fatima Jahagirdar (17) from Chandanmatti village in Dharwad Taluk. She was a First PUC student at Madina College, Dharwad, and had taken her classes and had already crossed over to the bus stand to come back home.
According to initial reports, Fatima was standing at the old Dharwad bus stand waiting for her bus when a KSRTC bus began reversing. The student was pinned against a nearby wall, and the vehicle was pinned between the wall and the structure.
The impact caused serious injuries, and despite immediate efforts to help her, the young student fell victim to her injuries. The incident has sent shockwaves through the local community, and fellow students, commuters, and witnesses are grieving for the tragic loss of a young life.
The accident caused panic at the busy bus stand as commuters rushed to the spot after hearing screams. The authorities were informed immediately, and police arrived at the scene to begin an investigation.
The case has been registered under the jurisdiction of Dharwad Traffic Police Station. The accident was also related to whether the safety measures were properly taken for the bus as it reversed, and if there existed any lapses in the operation, officials said.
Police will also examine CCTV footage from the bus stand, record statements from eyewitnesses, and question the bus driver as part of the investigation.
The tragic incident has once again raised safety concerns about pedestrian safety at busy bus terminals. Transport experts say buses need to reverse only with the right level of supervision, warning signs, and clearance, and should only be reversed if passengers are waiting in certain parts of the bus, and that is where they can be detected, and the bus can be stopped.
Residents and commuters have suggested better safety measures at bus stands, such as designated waiting zones, better traffic management, and better enforcement of operational protocols to prevent such accidents in the future.
But Fatima Jahagirdar has died, and her family, friends, and classmates are devastated. What should have been a regular journey home after college ended in an unimaginable tragedy and highlights the need for better safety measures at public transport hubs.
It is still under investigation, and action will be taken following that, police said.
