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Bhatkal: Eight people were killed and 20 others sustained serious injuries after a private bus rammed into a tempo in Ananthwadi, 25 kms from Bhatkal, at around 1 am on Thursday.

The area where the accident took place falls under the Manki Police station of Uttara Kannada district. According to initial investigations, the driver of the bus lost control in an attempt to overtake a vehicle. The victims killed in the mishap include a bride and four women, all hailing from Dharwad and Sirsi. The injured have been shifted to various hospitals in Manipal, Udupi and Kundapur after initial treatment at the Bhatkal government hospital.

The deceased have been identified as Umesh Valmiki (35) the driver of the private bus, tempo driver Nagappa Ganigar (46), Divya Kurdekar (23), Subramaniya (15), Pooja Shet (25), Palakshi Nagraj Shet (47), Bebi Sunil Shet (38) and Rukmini Shet (65). Two people continue to battle for their lives in Manipal, while the lives of the others injured are now out of danger. The postmortem on the dead bodies was conducted in Manki and Bhatkal and subsequently handed over to the families.

The bus driver was the only casualty from the bus. All other staff and pasengers managed to escape without injuries. 

According to eyewitnesses and pictures from the spot, the impact of the accident was so strong that the bus pushed the tempo nearly 20 metres off the road. The tempo eventually got stuck between the bus and an electric pole.

One of the people injured in the accident told SahilOnline that a marriage party from Dharwad and Dasankoppa (Sirsi) was on its way to Dharmasthala when the accident occurred near Bhatkal. While the bride Divya Kurdekar lost her life, the groom Harish escaped with minor injuries. The private bus was on its way to Belgaum from Mangalore.

Youths​ belonging to Bhatkal Muslim Youth Federation rushed to the Bhatkal Government Hospital to help the injured. Bhatkal DySp Shiv Kumar, Bhatkal Circle Police Inspector Suresh Nayak, Honnavar Circle Police Inspector Kumaraswamy among many other police officials visited the accident spot and met the injured people admitted in various hospitals. According to Hari Shekaran, Inspector General of Police, Western Range, the Revenue department has released Rs 5,000 per injured person for treatment. He added that he would speak to the Deputy Commissioner and District in Charge to release more funds as per the requirement. 

The bus driver and two tempo passengers were killed on the spot, while two people who were injured, breathed their last at the Bhatkal Government Hospital. Two people died on the way to Manipal. The eighth person, Rukmini Shet succumbed to her injuries soon after she was admitted in Manipal.

A case has been registered in Manki police station and police officials are investigating into the cause of the accident. It must be pointed out that this particular stretch on the NH66 is prone to accidents, especially given the fact that vast stretches on this Highway are being widened often without taking all the necessary precautions and implementing the basic road safety features.