A 50-year-old woman succumbed to her injuries after the two-wheeler she was travelling on was struck by a bus on Monday, October 17 in Bengaluru’s Rajaji Nagar. Onlookers said that the vehicle on which Umadevi was riding pillion slipped on a pothole before it was hit by the bus. Umadevi, who sustained massive blood loss, passed away on Tuesday after spending a day in the hospital. Her daughter Vanitha who was driving the vehicle sustained minor injuries.
TimesNow reported that eyewitnesses to the accident said that the two-wheeler slipped after hitting a pothole, after which a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus travelling from Bengaluru to Shivamogga struck the two women as they fell to the ground. Umadevi was severely injured and taken to Ramaiah Memorial Hospital for advanced care.
Meanwhile, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has refused to take responsibility for the accident. Commissioner Tushar Girinath said it is yet to be confirmed if the accident was actually caused by the bad condition of the roads. Only after reports from the traffic and city police teams come in can it be ascertained if potholes were the reason for the accident, he said.
This is not the first time potholes have proven to be dangerous and fatal to motorists in Bengaluru. In August this year, Suprith J, a 44-year-old corporate worker, was travelling on his two-wheeler in Sunkadakatte when he hit a pothole and fell on the road. CCTV footage from a camera installed in a building nearby showed Suprith’s scooter suddenly skidding after which he fell. He sustained severe head injuries and was rushed to a private hospital immediately. He died from his injuries four days later.
In a similar incident in March this year, 27-year-old Ashwin rode into a pothole in MS Palya and sustained severe injuries and later succumbed. According to the police, the incident happened when Ashwin had gone to buy food for his mother from a restaurant. Since there was no streetlight, he lost his balance after riding into the pothole and fell down suffering serious injuries.