JOIN USPrivate bus rams road median, catches fire in KR Puram
A private bus caught fire near Vengayyanakere lake at KR Puram after it rammed into a road median on Tuesday afternoon. The incident took place when the bus tried to avoid collision with a bike on which three people were reportedly riding pillion, when the driver tried to take a turn.
The bike riders were injured in the accident and the bus passengers had a miraculous escape. The bus was on its way to Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh. About 50 passengers got off the bus, soon after it caught fire.
Kalyan Kumar (20), Mallikarjuna (21), Harish (18) and Harish (18) are the injured. They were rushed to different hospitals for treatment. The condition of one of them is said to be critical.
According to police, the bus caught fire as the diesel tank was damaged. Mallikarjuna, who suffered 35 per cent burns, is in critical condition and is being treated at Victoria Hospital. According to doctors, he has breathing problems, has been put on ventilator and is yet to regain consciousness.
While both the Harishs are being treated at National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Kalyan Kumar has been admitted to the Super Speciality Hospital, K R Puram.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Raju, Kumar’s relative, said that the family would not be able to foot the hospital bills and is planning to shift him to Victoria Hospital. “I want to meet my family. I am unable to recollect how the incident took place,” Kumar said. He is a first year B Pharma student at Karnataka College.
Traffic on the busy road was disrupted for over two hours even as two fire extinguishers, with the help of the traffic police, tried to put off the fire.“Since they are all hospitalised, we are yet to ascertain how the accident took place,” he added. A case has been registered against the private travel agency.No ambulance
Even as the injured cried for help, no ambulance reached the spot in time. Eyewitnesses said that the injured had to be shifted to hospital in a Hoysala vehicle of the police.