A pothole just a few metres away from the Ulsoor Gate police station in the central part of the town proved fatal, as it led to an accident that killed two children, including a one-year-old.
The children were riding on a scooter with their stepmother on Sunday evening, during the rain. When she slowed the vehicle down to manoeuvre the large pothole, a speeding bus rammed the scooter from behind.
The deceased have been identified as Shama Anjum (13) and her one-year-old sister Ayam. Shama was carrying the toddler in one hand, and an umbrella in the other. They were riding pillion with their stepmother Ameena (25), who was on her way to meet her husband Salauddin Babu, who hawks sunglasses at the Kempegowda Bus Stand. The family is from Siddapura near Lal Bagh.
While they slowed down near the police station to negotiate a pothole, the bus rammed their motorcycle from behind. Ameena fell to the right side, while the children fell to their left. Shama was crushed under the wheels of the bus, while the toddler – who was thrown to the pavement – suffered serious head injuries. Ayam succumbed to injuries late on Sunday night.
Salauddin Babu was inconsolable. “I have lost both my daughters. I had asked my wife not to bring Ayam out since it was cloudy. But she did not listen to me… now we have lost both of them,” he said and broke down in tears.
The Ulsoor Gate traffic police, who were just a few metres away from the accident spot, helped the victims and arrested the driver of the private bus attached to Kalleshwara Travels. The arrested, Mohammed Yusuf, was on his way to Majestic from Kalasipalya.
Traffic cops close pothole
Within hours after the fatal accident, traffic cops themselves closed the pothole with mud and cement. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic – East) M.N. Babu Rajendra Prasad told The Hindu that waiting for the BBMP to close a pothole may lead to further accidents and therefore they had taken immediate measures to fill the pothole.
Matters in Court
February, 2012 : 12 recommendations made by a court-appointed expert committee, which Division Bench says should be implemented within six months in the city
October 29, 2013 : BBMP tells Karnataka High Court that roads are being repaired according to Indian Roads Congress standard in 1,940 km of arterial and sub-arterial roads in the city.
January 30, 2015 : Karnataka High Court rapped the State government for the poor condition of roads in Bengaluru while hearing a writ petition that challenged lifetime road tax on non-Karnataka vehicle
Quotes
Mukunda Nijagal, mechanical engineer: "Every time I ride on the roads, I feel one inch closer to death. Once, I hit a pothole, and the alloy wheel of my tyres broke."
Keshav Murthy, autorickshaw driver: "During the rains, we can't even see the potholes. If it is deep, I feel like my autorickshaw will topple over...There are potholes on some roads that I have seen unrepaired for the past three years."
