Woman walking to hospital run over on Hosur Road

Her two sons injured; speeding vehicle hits median, rams car

A 65-year-old woman crossing the road to reach Narayana Health hospital near Bommasandra junction, south Bengaluru, was killed when a speeding trailer ran her over on Wednesday morning. Her two sons were also injured in the accident.

The trailer didn’t stop at that. It crashed into the median strip, went over to the other side of the road and hit a car, injuring a woman.

The accident angered local residents who quickly came out on the streets, demanding a skywalk at the busy road.

Shanthamma had come from Ballari for the treatment of her heart disease.

Her two sons, Peddanna, 45, and Parmeshwara, 32, accompanied her. They reached the road opposite Narayana Health around 11.30 am. Then they started crossing the road.

Just then, the trailer emerged on the road and, before the three could react, mowed down Shanthamma and hit the two men. The trailer driver, Kubedharan, then crashed the vehicle into the median strip and it veered to the other side of the road, hitting a car coming in the opposite direction.

The car driver, Shivamallamma, 32, escaped with minor injuries. The trailer was on its way to Hosur while the car was coming to Bengaluru.

The accident drew people from nearby places. The jurisdictional Hebbagodi traffic police also arrived and took the four people to hospital. They seized the trailer and arrested Kubedharan.

Public protest

Local residents quickly gathered at the place and started a protest, demanding a skywalk near the Bommasandra junction.

The said the stretch had several hospitals which were visited by thousands of people every day. Those crossing the road to reach the hospitals are at a high risk since the road sees heavy traffic, they said.

Murali Krishna, who runs a bakery near Bommasandra junction, told Deccan Herald, “Every day, there is at least one minor or major accident on this stretch. It’s a busy junction and there is no proper regulation of traffic.

“People keep crossing the road and get run over or injured as vehicles move at top speed. The traffic police have been deployed here but the vehicle density is so high that it is difficult for them to handle it.”

He said a skywalk was very much needed. “We have learnt that funds have been sanctioned for construction of a skywalk but nothing is being done,” he said. A senior police officer said a subway was located a little ahead of the junction but people avoided using it as it made the distance longer.

“Everyone is demanding a skywalk. Funds have been sanctioned for the construction of a skywalk but the authorities concerned have decided to start the construction only after monsoon.”