<p> It was a hot Thursday afternoon. As usual, I left my home near Hunasamaranahalli, off New Airport Road, to reach my office on MG Road, 25 km away, on time. <br /><br /></p>.<p>I was riding my scooter on the New Airport Road flyover at a moderate speed of 60-65 kmph. The road was shorn of its everyday traffic din, probably due to the midday heat, and motorists were going about their commute at leisure.<br /><br />My everyday route takes me through the Esteem Mall junction near the Hebbal flyover, from where I take the Ballari Road, towards MG Road.<br /><br />It was about 12.20 pm. Making my way down the last bit of the flyover, which opens towards the Esteem Mall, I slowed down. It turned out to be a real godsend. Just as I rode the near-empty stretch of the road, a gigantic vehicle zipped along my left and sped in the same direction I was headed. <br /><br />There is a big speed-breaker in front of Esteem Mall, approaching a traffic signal. The monster vehicle, I noticed, was a water tanker, which at first looked like any other rashly driven vehicle we are so used to these days. The tanker sped on, and without braking, took off over the speed-breaker and hit the road with a big thud, with its entire body rattling. I was flummoxed by what I saw and slowed down my scooter further. <br /><br />Even before I could comprehend what was going on, there was carnage just 20 feet ahead. The tanker suddenly veered to the right and ploughed into a group of people. I could see the hapless people being run over by the vehicle, which either had lost control or its driver had lost his mind. The tanker’s deadly run hadn’t ended yet. After running over the victims, it roared towards the Hebbal flyover, chased by a vigilant traffic constable with help from a fellow citizen on his bike. <br /><br />I pulled over beside the BBMP crematorium nearby and scurried to the scene of the accident. What I saw was horrifying: two bodies — a man and a woman whose faces were crushed by the impact, and flesh splashed across the road. <br /><br />It was unclear if they were motorists or pedestrians trying to cross the road. Bystanders were in a daze not knowing which way to look. The police immediately arrived on the scene and took stock of the situation. The truck driver was later arrested.</p>
<p> It was a hot Thursday afternoon. As usual, I left my home near Hunasamaranahalli, off New Airport Road, to reach my office on MG Road, 25 km away, on time. <br /><br /></p>.<p>I was riding my scooter on the New Airport Road flyover at a moderate speed of 60-65 kmph. The road was shorn of its everyday traffic din, probably due to the midday heat, and motorists were going about their commute at leisure.<br /><br />My everyday route takes me through the Esteem Mall junction near the Hebbal flyover, from where I take the Ballari Road, towards MG Road.<br /><br />It was about 12.20 pm. Making my way down the last bit of the flyover, which opens towards the Esteem Mall, I slowed down. It turned out to be a real godsend. Just as I rode the near-empty stretch of the road, a gigantic vehicle zipped along my left and sped in the same direction I was headed. <br /><br />There is a big speed-breaker in front of Esteem Mall, approaching a traffic signal. The monster vehicle, I noticed, was a water tanker, which at first looked like any other rashly driven vehicle we are so used to these days. The tanker sped on, and without braking, took off over the speed-breaker and hit the road with a big thud, with its entire body rattling. I was flummoxed by what I saw and slowed down my scooter further. <br /><br />Even before I could comprehend what was going on, there was carnage just 20 feet ahead. The tanker suddenly veered to the right and ploughed into a group of people. I could see the hapless people being run over by the vehicle, which either had lost control or its driver had lost his mind. The tanker’s deadly run hadn’t ended yet. After running over the victims, it roared towards the Hebbal flyover, chased by a vigilant traffic constable with help from a fellow citizen on his bike. <br /><br />I pulled over beside the BBMP crematorium nearby and scurried to the scene of the accident. What I saw was horrifying: two bodies — a man and a woman whose faces were crushed by the impact, and flesh splashed across the road. <br /><br />It was unclear if they were motorists or pedestrians trying to cross the road. Bystanders were in a daze not knowing which way to look. The police immediately arrived on the scene and took stock of the situation. The truck driver was later arrested.</p>