Undabatti tank turns into 'spectacle'

Following the gory mishap that claimed 31 lives, Undabatti tank on Mysore-Ooty National Highway-212 has become a stopover, for those passing through the stretch.

When Deccan Herald went to the spot on Thursday, there were a group of curious people gathered by the road side. While some among them were people belonging to Aralukuppe in Mandya district, the village most of the victims belonged to, some were also tourists.

They had stepped out to catch a glimpse of the water body, after learning about the incident from the people already gathered at the site. Equally curious were those vehicular drivers on the road who were craning their necks from the cabins only to be followed by others.

All they had to gaze was at the traces of oil that had spilled from the maxicab that plunged into the tank on Tuesday. It had formed a thin film, breaking into myriad colours, and the remnants of the victims and also of the ill-fated vehicle that were cast aside.

Ravi of Thandavapura, a factory worker who lost one of his relatives in a mishap on the same road several months ago, had only one demand; Will the authorities take concrete steps atleast now to make Mysore-Nanjangud road a motor-friendly journey?

No signboards

Barring boards that read 30 (speed limit on the tank bund) and a vertical signboard leading to the tourist destinations in the city, there are no boards that could serve as a warning on both the sides of the tank. Similar is the case with two lakes-Shetty Kere near Mandakalli and Dalwoy lake near Gejjagalli. The only satisfaction in the case of Dalwoy lake is, a board has been erected reading-curve ahead. Besides two other boards have been put up in front of Dalwoy and Shetty lakes giving a brief input of the lake besides its names. Where as in the case of Undabatti there is no such information.

Accident spots

It may be tough to comprehend, but the particular stretch between Kadakola and Bandipalya APMC Yard which comes under South Police Station’s limits has four accident spots-Ennehole Bridge (near Kadakola police out-post) and the above three lakes.

Recently a two-wheeler rider was killed on the spot on the same bridge in a hit-and-run case.

The irony here is, efforts on the part of the authorities concerned to check the incidents by laying multiple road humps before and after the bridge several years ago has gone in vain. Likewise, two lorries collided against each other near Shetty Kere several months ago.

In this case, the lorry had crossed over the multiple road humps at a great speed to ram into the vehicle from the other side. Dalwoy lake remains in the news for most of the reasons recording highest number of accidents unlike two other lakes.  A cop attached to K R Police Station here lost his life on this tank bund when his vehicle was knocked down by a heavy motor vehicle. These are just examples of many fatal and non-fatal incidents recorded at these spots.

Potholes

Apart from the lakes, what calls for the vehicular users on the road to be extra cautious is ‘potholes’.

It’s indeed a challenging to task to find even small patch of road without potholes. Hope, the district administration with its emergency works to be launched on December 17 lessens mishaps, if not completely free from unsavoury incidents.

Now, cab owner goes underground

Owner of that ill-fated maxi cab that fell into Undabatti tank here on Tuesday, has gone absconding.

Sanjeev Murthy, a resident of Palahalli in Srirangapatna taluk has gone into hiding, after locking his house at the village, said a source at South Police Station. However, the police have continued the search operation.

They have also launched a manhunt for the driver and cleaner of that vehicle who fleed the scene soon after the accident.