16 passengers hurt as BMTC bus hits tree; 4 suffer fracture

A recklessly driven BMTC bus crashed into a roadside tree in western Bengaluru on Tuesday, injuring 16 passengers, four of whom have sustained a fracture. 

The bus — KA 01 F 8698 deployed on the route number 248SA from Sunkadakatte to KR Market via Vijayanagar — met with the accident at Jai Muni Rao Circle, Magadi Main Road, around 8.45 am. 

The bus driver had finished a trip from KR Market to Sunkadakatte and was driving back when he reportedly lost control of the vehicle. A few passengers told the police that he was driving recklessly and speeding. 

There were around 40 passengers on the bus at the time, including schoolchildren and women. The crash left 16 of them injured, including four who have been hospitalised as they suffered a fractured. The rest were treated as outpatients. There was no student among the inpatients. 

The bus driver, Sathyappa MS, 36, is among the four who have been hospitalised. 

An officer from Vijayanagar traffic police said a BMTC depot manager and other staff from the transport corporation visited the spot and examined the bus. They have concluded that there was no brake failure or any other technical problem with the bus. 

“We have taken up a case against the driver and are waiting for his discharge from hospital to take further necessary action,” the officer added. 

A spokesperson for the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation said action would be taken against the driver once the depot manager and the divisional commissioner concerned filed a report.