A tragic road accident claimed the lives of two people and left several others injured after a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus overturned near Madhuvanahalli village in Kollegal taluk of Chamarajanagar district on Monday evening.
According to initial reports, the accident occurred at around 5 PM when the KSRTC bus was travelling from the famous Male Mahadeshwara Hills (MM Hills) towards Mysuru. Obviously, the bus lost control for reasons that are yet to be officially confirmed; it overturned on the roadside.
The accident was a catastrophic one and two passengers died on the spot. We also have seen three others who were injured of different kinds and rushed to the Kollegal Government Hospital for immediate medical treatment. The death toll is likely to rise as there are some of the injured who are already in critical condition.
The bus suddenly veered off course and overturned and passengers screamed when it suddenly veered off course and went down and passengers feared that it was going to go to the ground, the witnesses said and fled. Residents rushed to the scene and helped rescue work began before the emergency services came and got there. The injured passengers were pulled out of the damaged bus and taken to hospital in nearby medical facilities.
Police officers from Kollegal Rural Police Station arrived at the accident site soon after the information about the incident was received. They first checked the area and worked in conjunction with the local government and medical team for rescue. Traffic in the area was temporarily affected as rescue workers worked to clear the accident site.
The accident has been investigated to determine the cause of the crash. Initial information suggests the driver might have lost control of the vehicle but officials have not ruled out mechanical failure or road conditions. The bus was badly damaged in the accident.
Male Mahadeshwara Hills is one of the major pilgrimage and tourist routes in southern Karnataka and there is heavy tourist traffic throughout the year. The accident has once again raised questions about road safety and vehicle maintenance on hilly and winding routes.
But senior transport officials will go to the site of the accident to investigate the cause of the tragedy and investigate the reasons behind it. Names of the deceased have not yet been officially identified.
The motorists and public transport operators should be careful on routes that are rough and mountainous, the local authority said.
And there will be more updates when more information becomes available, the statement added.
