The collision resulted in injuries to 21 passengers, including drivers of both the vehicles and left the BMTC conductor Mallamma S Patil seriously injured. Said to be pregnant, she is reportedly out of danger.

According to eyewitness accounts, both the vehicles collided near the Dr Rajkumar Circle on 28th Main, 9th Block at 6.40 am. “It appears that drivers of both the buses were over-speeding. However, the cause of the accident seems to have been the fault of the driver of the private bus, who negotiated a sharp turn unaware of a BMTC bus heading towards it,” said an eyewitness.

The BMTC bus, bearing registration no KA-01-F-2622 of depot-4 was heading towards Kempegowda Bus Station (Majestic) from MICO Layout, while the Siemens bus was proceeding towards Banashankari from Central Silk Board.

“As drivers of both buses applied brakes suddenly, passengers who were seated were jolted from their seats. Many of them sustained facial injuries.
“Many passengers were seen alighting from the bus with broken teeth. Some even had the teeth in their hands, with blood flowing out from the mouth. Such was the impact,” said an early morning walker, who was witness to the collision.

Passers-by rushed the injured to the nearby Shekhar Hospital, where they were treated for injuries as outpatients, said BMTC officials.

MICO Layout traffic police have registered a case of rash and negligent driving against the bus drivers.
DH News Service