Car speeds over horse gram and ragi crops that were laid on the road for threshing by farmers
K.R. Pet: A family from Bengaluru had a miraculous escape after the car in which they were travelling caught fire when the vehicle speeded over horse gram and ragi crops that were laid on the road for threshing by farmers in K.R. Pet yesterday.
The tradition of threshing paddy, horse gram and ragi crops on roads to separate the crop from the sheaves cause accidents on roads and Highways.As harvesting season reaches its peak in January, farmers use main and interior roads to thresh harvested crop in order to obtain the grains.
Threshing is the process of loosening the edible part of grain from the husks and straw to which it is attached. However, as the crops are laid on the road, vehicles moving on the crops generate great heat when it comes in contact with fast-rotating tyres. In the process, the vehicle catches fire due to the friction between the vehicle tyre and the asphalted road.
Yesterday’s incident was reported near the famous Bhoovarahaswamy Temple at Kallahalli village in K.R. Pet. Rajagopal, a resident of Mahalakshmi Layout in Bengaluru had come to the Temple in a car along with his family for darshan in the afternoon. As the car neared a place that is two to three kilometres from the Temple, it caught fire as the wheels speeded on the horse gram and ragi crops that were laid on the road.
Unaware of the fire, the car continued to travel on the road. Passers-by and a few farmers, who observed the flames coming out of the vehicle, chased the car on their bikes and alerted the family. Rajagopal, his wife, daughter and mother immediately got out of the vehicle. The fire spread instantly as the car stopped and it was a close shave for the family.
Though the villagers alerted the Fire and Emergency Services Department, the vehicle was completely destroyed. The fire engine was able to douse the fire later. A case has been registered at K.R. Pet Rural Police Station.
It may be recalled here that following a series of accidents due to paddy and ragi threshing on roads, Mysuru Police had warned farmers not to use the roads for farming activity. But despite warning, they continue to indulge in this activity as it saves labour costs.
Spreading crop on the roads to remove husk is a uncontrolled act. Illiterate framers do not have any idea of the dangers they pose to vehicles. Farmers do not bother, authorities do not bother, when accidents take place it is an open and shut case. Put these farmers behind bars, rest will avoid using roads for husking.
This is an age old problem with no solution in sight. The government should caution drivers to drive their vehicles at their own risk and stop collecting tolls and other road taxes.
The solution lies in teaching these crooks a lesson! Police don’t care !! Drive slowly, move to the side and when you are close to the end of the husk throw a lighted cigarette lighter so that the entire pile catches fire! if a few car drivers do this, ‘ their illiteracy will be cured! this is a better solutio than the drives catching fire
Look at this moron asking public to light up farmers yield, have you ever thought of how much struggle they do to get yield.
Teach them alternate ways, farming community is big in India you cannot provide a designated area in every village, hence local bodies should mark single lane for this purpose and one lane for traffic in harvest time. Even public should cooperate with farming community for couple of weeks in harvest time.
Mr. Citizen misses the point. Keeping one lane for farmers to spread their harvest is not the solution. The very idea of spreading their crop on the road is to make the traffic separate the husk. Just by spreading the crop on the road will not help. There should be community thrashing machines that would help resolve this issue. I am sure with many of the Agricultural colleges and universities there should be viable options with out putting the traffic at risk.