Drunk driving: Bus overturns, close shave for 15 passengers in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: It was a miraculous escape for over 15 passengers on-board a private bus, when an inebriated driver, belonging to a private carrier, lost control over the bus and rammed the vehicle into a roadside tree and turned turtle in HSR Layout on Wednesday morning. Due to the impact the tree got uprooted and the overturned bus affected traffic flow.

The driver, identified as Kiran Kumar, (22), a resident of Ragigudda was booked for drunken driving and remanded in judicial custody.

According to police, the accident took place around 12.15 pm on the service road Agra junction in HSR Layout. Most passengers were women and the bus, belonging to to Laxmi Sarawati travels, was heading to Tin factory from Banashankari.

Kiran was driving under the influence of alcohol and when the passengers objected to his rash driving he threatened them. As the bus approached the service road, Kiran lost control over the vehicle.

The traffic police rushed to the spot and with the help of the army and fire and emergency personnel carried out rescue efforts. The police team, headed by HSR Layout traffic inspector Rao Ganesh, administrated first aid to the injured before shifting them to Sakra hospital. The injured are said to be out of danger, police added.

“A major tragedy got averted as the bus did not run amock after hitting the tree. It was a well-coordinated effort as with the help of army personnel, fire and emergency officials and passers-by, the injured were shifted to the hospital. The police later summoned a private crane and the bus and uprooted tree was removed. Police later summoned Kiran, the driver and subjected him to test and the alcometer reading was 220/100 ml of blood,” said the traffic inspector.
DCP traffic (East) Abhishek Goyal visited the spot and congratulated his men. HSR Layout traffic police have registered a case.