Mysore: Five passengers, incluÂding a woman, died and over 40 others were injured after a private bus crashed through a roadside railing and fell into a 20-foot-deep ditch in Sathanur village near Mandya on Saturday.
The accident occurÂred when the private bus driver was trying to overtake a KSRTC bus on Sannahalli Bridge, but saw another bus coming from the opposite direction.
The bus was going towards Dyapasandra from Mandya, and was carrying 50-60 passengers. “The bus driver was speeding and it was his negligence that caused the accident,” they said.
The deceased have been identified as Shivanna Shivalingayya (60) of S.I. Kodihalli village, Lokesh Siddayya of Hulivan village (38), Siddappa Boraiah (60) and Laxmi Boraiah (35) of Dyapasandra and Nathappa Nanje Gowda (55).
The injured passengers are undergoing treatment at Nimhans in Bengaluru and K.R. Hospital in Mysore. Some of the critically injured passengers have also been admitted to VIMS Hospital in Mandya.
PWD minister H.C. Mahadevappa, Mandya Deputy Commissioner B.N. Krishnaiah, Superintendent of Police Bhushan Borase and regional transport officials visited the spot.
The minister also called on the injured at the Mandya hospital and was gheroed by the people. Mahadevappa promised compensation to the families of the deceased.
