Twenty-nine employees of the Women and Child Development Department in Kolar were injured when the bus in which they were travelling overturned near Dharmasthala on Tuesday.
In all, 44 employees were on a tour to visit some anganwadis and MSPC units (where nutritious food items for children are prepared) in Dakshina Kannada.
According to C.V. Raman, Child Development Project Officer from Kolar, who is among the injured, they were to visit MSPC units and anganwadis in three places, including Dharmasthala and Mudigere. They left Kolar by a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus on Monday morning and arrived at Dharmasthala by evening. Having visited the MSPC and anganwadi at Dharmastala, they left in the bus on Tuesday at 8 a.m.
At about 8.30 a.m., the driver, Naveen, lost control on the vehicle while negotiating a curve and the bus overturned. Many of those sitting on the left side of the bus were injured.
D. Roopa (43) and Shailaja (35), both first-division assistants, lost a part of their left hand in the accident. They were admitted to a private hospital at Kuntikana.
Ms. Roopa, who was in the intensive care unit, said, “I did not realise that a part of my hand was severed. I managed to come out of the bus with my bag containing a camera and other valuables.”
She said, “I could not search for the severed part... I’m fortunate that nothing happened to my right hand.” Ms. Roopa was being consoled by her colleagues.
Three persons — Child Protection Officer of Mulbagal G. Ramappa, Protection Officer Manjunath and a woman staff — were in a private hospital at Kadri here. The other injured, including the driver, were admitted to SDM Hospital at Dharmasthala and a private hospital near the temple town. Officials from the KSRTC and the Women and Child Development Department met the injured staff.
KSRTC authorities have promised to meet the treatment expenses, Mr. Raman said.