Six women from Srirangapatna taluk were on their way to Goravanahalli Temple

Tumakuru: In a heart-wrenching incident that unfolded at the KSRTC (Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation) bus stand in Tumakuru yesterday, two women from Srirangapatna lost their lives as they were crushed to death between two buses.

The victims, identified as Puttathayamma (67) and Pankajamma (50), were among a group of six women from K. Shettihalli village in Srirangapatna taluk of Mandya district. The incident occurred when the women, on a pilgrimage to the Goravanahalli Mahalakshmi Temple in Koratagere taluk, ran towards a departing bus. As they were trying to board the bus amid a huge rush, another bus headed to Gauribidanur arrived at the bus stand. The bus heading to Goravanahalli moved forward, inadvertently pushing the women towards the rear of the Gauribidanur bus.

Puttathayamma and Pankajamma found themselves caught between two buses, leading to their death. Manjamma, who was accompanying the deceased, said that they shouted at the bus driver to reverse his vehicle, but he did not do so. The four other women who accompanied them miraculously escaped the incident without any injuries.

Soon after the incident, the drivers of the two buses fled the scene. The bodies of the deceased women have been shifted to the District Hospital in Tumakuru.

Villagers and relatives said that the six women had planned to visit Goravanahalli, taking the benefits of the State Government’s free bus travel scheme for women. Authorities are currently investigating the circumstances leading to this accident with a focus on safety measures at bus terminals.