The Hindu : Front Page : 10 killed as bus plunges into open well

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 17, 2007
ePaper

Front Page

Front Page

10 killed as bus plunges into open well

Staff Correspondent

Nine of the victims were schoolchildren returning to their villages

Tragic: The open well in which the NWKRTC bus fell killing 10 persons on the spot on the Athani-Anandpur Road, near Athani town, on Saturday.

Belgaum: A pall of gloom descended on Athani during Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations after 10 persons, including nine schoolchildren, were killed and 12 were injured when a bus they were travelling by plunged into a roadside open well on Athani-Anandpur Road near Athani town, about 145 km from here, on Saturday.

Though some persons sitting in the rear of the bus, belonging to North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation, managed to swim to safety, others got stuck in the vehicle and lost their lives. The driver and conductor of the bus are safe.

There were about 35 to 40 passengers in the bus, which was heading from Athani to Parthanahalli, at the time of the accident.

The children were returning to their native villages after participating in Ganesh Chaturthi festivities in their respective schools in Athani town.

The police suspect that the accident might have occurred when the bus driver lost control over the vehicle while trying to avoid a vehicle coming from the opposite side.

The police rushed to the spot and divers were engaged in rescue work.

The bodies of all the victims were recovered. They have been identified as Basappa Lagmannavar Kumbar (55) of Naganur, Puja Bhimrao Patil (12) and her sister Poonam Bhimrao Patil (14) from Kiranagi; Sridevi Pandurang Jadhav (13) and Vijay Sangappa (17) both from Kiranagi; Sadashiv Basagouda Jinagouda (18) of Saunshi, Gangubai Raosab Damigoudar (18) of Sankonahatti, P.N. Goudgonda (16) of Taushi, Puttu Taushi (14) of Taushi and Vinod Bannennavar (10) of Naganur.

The injured have been admitted to the government hospital in Athani town. The bus was also pulled out of the well.

Compensation

Meanwhile, Minister for Horticulture and district in-charge Shashikant A. Naik handed over Rs. 15,000 as compensation to the family members of each of the dead.

Superintendent of Police Hemant Nimbalkar visited the spot. The Athani police have registered a case.

Congress leader and former MLA Shahhjahan Dongargaon and local people have criticised the Public Works Department (PWD) for ignoring maintenance of Athani-Anandpur Road and not repairing the protection wall along the side of the road.

People had been requesting the PWD to repair the wall, but the department had ignored the plea, they said and added that its negligence had led to the death of 10 persons. The people also alleged that the PWD had shown huge expenses for repairing the road. But, there was no improvement in its condition, they said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page