Thalappady accident: Overspeeding by Karnataka RTC bus led to accident; driver booked

KASARGOD: The Motor Vehicle Department has confirmed that overspeeding by a Karnataka Transport Corporation bus led to the accident that claimed the lives of six people in Thalappady, Kasargod. The inquiry, conducted by a team from the Kasaragod Road Transport Office, also revealed that the bus had severely worn-out tyres, which intensified the impact of the crash. However, investigators confirmed that the brakes were functioning properly.

Following the accident, the police took the bus driver and the conductor into custody. A case of non-intentional homicide was registered against driver Nijalingappa, who has been working as a driver with the Karnataka RTC for the last 14 years. For the last years, he has been driving on the Kasargod-Mangaluru road. The bus had undergone fitness checks on August 8, ruling out any technical issues.

The Karnataka RTC MD had issued a statement yesterday stating that the accident occurred due to overspeeding and the driver's lack of attention. He also stated that the Karnataka Transport Corporation would bear the treatment expenses of the injured people.

The incident that shook the state occurred around 1.45 pm on Thursday. The bus, travelling at high speed from Mangaluru to Kasaragod, hit an autorickshaw and then rammed into a bus waiting shed. The autorickshaw driver, a young woman passenger and two women waiting at the bus stop died on the spot. A total of six people lost their lives in the accident. Two others waiting at the bus stop were seriously injured and are undergoing treatment in the hospital. Manjeshwar Police are overseeing rescue operations and the ongoing investigation.