Miraculous escape for over 70 passengers; 20 injured

Mandya: More than 20 passengers were injured this morning when a KSRTC bus toppled after colliding with a parked goods carrier (canter) in front of Sanjo Hospital on the service road of the Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway.

The incident occurred as the driver of the speeding Mysuru-bound KSRTC bus, carrying approximately 60-70 passengers, attempted to enter the service road from the highway. Losing control, the bus struck the goods carrier before turning over, injuring nearly all passengers on board. 20 persons sustained more injuries.

The KSRTC bus was travelling from Tumakuru to Mysuru and its front part bore significant damage. Had the goods vehicle not been present at the spot, the bus would have likely collided with an electric transformer, potentially resulting in more serious injuries. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported.

Immediately following the accident, passersby rushed to assist the passengers, helping them escape through the windows. Nursing staff from Sanjo Hospital quickly provided first aid to the injured.

Approximately 20 passengers were taken to the hospital, while around 10 individuals with more serious injuries were transported to the Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS) for treatment.

The accident also blocked vehicle movement on the service road. Mandya DC Dr. Kumara, SP Mallikarjun Baladandi, and Additional SP C.E. Thimmaiah visited the scene to oversee rescue operations. A crane was later summoned to remove the overturned bus, allowing traffic to flow smoothly once more.

Speaking to reporters, Mallikarjun Baladandi stated that, on initial assessment, over-speeding appeared to be the cause of the incident. He emphasised that further investigation would be conducted to determine the exact circumstances. He also confirmed that no casualties had been reported.