A major tragedy was averted on the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway near Srirangapatna on Friday after the driver of a running KSRTC multi-axle Volvo stopped the bus, following heavy spillage of diesel.
An hour-long effort to prevent the spillage of fuel went waste. Nearly 300 litres of diesel was lost as the leakage could not be plugged.
The bus, with around 35 passengers on board, was heading towards Mysuru from Bengaluru when its fuel tank hit an iron rod of a barricade. The barricade was erected by the Mandya District Police to prevent accidents caused by over-speeding, or rash or negligent driving.
The incident occurred near K. Shettihalli, near Gananguru of Srirangapatna taluk. The barricade had fallen on the highway as it was hit by a vehicle. Several speeding vehicles had already passed it. The driver of the Volvo, identified as Naveen, could not control the speeding bus and drove it over the damaged barricade.
The rod of the barricade hit the fuel tank, Prakash, Divisional Mechanical Engineer (KSRTC, Mandya Division), said.
Speaking to The Hindu, he said Mr. Naveen stopped the bus after drivers of other private vehicles alerted him about the spillage and he tried to prevent it. Nevertheless, he could not prevent the fuel waste.
The vehicle belongs to the KSRTC’s Mysuru Depot (No 2, Rural Depot) and of BS III engine. Mr. Naveen and the conductor, Manje Gowda, have been working with the KSRTC for eight years.
According to sources, none of the passengers were aware about the spillage till drivers of other vehicles alerted Mr. Naveen.
The bus is said to have travelled for nearly a km with diesel leaking out heavily. Later, the passengers were sent to Mysuru in other KSRTC buses along the route. The vehicle was sent to the Mysuru depot, Mr. Prakash said.
