Anger on streets as women injured in pothole accident

Hameed Ashraf | NT

Bengaluru: Gaping potholes and the slush on the roads after heavy rains have made rides on city roads a dangerous affair. On Monday, a woman and her daughter fell victim to the BBMP's negligence and were left injured while trying to negotiate a pothole near Okalipuram junction as they fell from their scooter after being hit by a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus coming from behind.

The accident happened on the main road near Sujatha Theatre Bus stop in the morning when Uma, 42, and her daughter Vanita, 22, were riding from Srinagar towards their house in Gayathri Nagar. Uma suffered severe injuries on her leg while Vanita, who was driving the scooter, escaped with minor injuries.

The injured were immediately taken to ESI Hospital in Rajajinagar. As news of the incident spread across social media platforms, several activists, residents and members of political parties surrounded the place and started threatening the police demanding that the roads be blocked until the pothole menace is solved.

The pothole which led to the accident was later filled by the Civic body. The Malleswaram traffic police booked the KSRTC bus driver, Maruthi Rao, who blamed the pothole for the accident. Meanwhile BBMP Commissioner Tushar Girinath said, "I'm not sure how the accident took place. The police are investigating the matter and the bus driver has been arrested. Further action will be taken based on the report," he said.