Woman dies as taxi rams into bus on KIA Road

A 27-year-old woman from the City, who had settled down in Hong Kong, was killed on the spot when the cab she was travelling in rammed into a stationary private bus on Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) Road on Saturday night.

Her mother and cab driver Honnesh were critically injured in the accident, which took place near the Vidyanagar flyover.

Jagruthi Sadhwani and her mother Priya were on their way to the KIA to catch a flight when the accident occurred.

The women had been residing in Hong Kong for a long time. Jagruthi was pursuing a teacher-training course there, while Priya was a homemaker.

They had come to the City recently on some personal errand and to meet relatives residing in Frazer Town.

On Saturday, they had a flight back to Hong Kong and booked an Airport Taxi to go to the KIA. Around 11:50 pm, near the Vidyanagar flyover, the cab driver failed to notice a stationary bus and rammed into its rear. The impact killed Jagruthi on the spot, while Priya and Honnesh suffered grievous injuries, said the police.

Passers-by rushed the trio to a nearby private hospital, where Jagruthi was declared dead on arrival.

Priya was admitted to Columbia Asia hospital while Honnesh was shifted to Pro Life Hospital in Byatarayanapura. They are said to be in critical condition and are undergoing treatment, said the police.

A senior police officer who visited the spot said: “It started when the private bus, which was going towards Hyderabad, and a car going towards the airport brushed past each other. The car’s driver, a model named Arjun, overtook the bus stopped in front of the bus. He and the bus’ driver Ashwaq Ahmed got down from their vehicles, leaving them on the right side of the road, and had a heated argument.

“Meanwhile, Honnesh overtook a vehicle and did not notice the bus, and rammed into it from the rear. Honnesh was also driving at top speed. The body of the deceased has been shifted for post-mortem, and members of her family in Hong Kong and here in Bengaluru have been informed,” he added.

The Chikkajala traffic police have booked all the three drivers. Arjun and Ashwaq have also been taken into custody.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) M A Saleem has said: “Vehicles travelling on this particular road maintain a speed limit of 80 km per hour. No vehicle is allowed to stop on this stretch, as it will cause hindrance for the vehicles which are moving at top speed. Last night's incident was tragic and the drivers who left their vehicles on the road without any indication led to the accident.”