Highway Authority's 'negligence' claims lives

No warning signs, safety walls on Charmadi stretch curves

The Charmadi Ghat road, connecting Chikkamagaluru with Mangaluru, has turned into a death trap for users, as there are no protective walls in steep curves. Accidents occur in places like Malayamarutha, Alekhan falls and Bidirutala quite often.

National Highway 234 at Charmadi Ghat is a stretch of 16 km from Kottigehara to Charmadi village falls in the limits of Mudigere and Belthangady taluks. The vehicles fall into the open trenches on the Ghat, resulting in death and fatal injuries. Also, due to mist, the road is not visible to drivers and many a times, they cannot see the trenches by the road. It has been a Herculean task for the heavy vehicles and timber lorries bound to the coastal districts to move on the Ghat road.

Caught unawares
Moreover, there are no warning signs near the dangerous curves and trenches. Drivers who are new to this stretch, going to Dharmasthala, Subrahmanya and Mangaluru, are generally not aware of the situation, and are easily prone to danger.

A KSRTC bus driver said that the vehicle traffic has increased on Ghat road and the accidents occur every now and then. There is a need to set up a mobile tower too, to help manage emergency situations. Also, police patrolling is required. As of now, someone has to travel quite a distance even to inform the ambulance or police as there is no mobile network in the ghat section.

Many vehicle drivers have been urging the authorities concerned as well as the National Highways Authority to construct protective walls and to put up warning signs, to prevent fatal injuries or deaths.