Amrutha Kumari is yet to come to terms with a nightmarish hit-and-run incident that took place on June 5 last year over Venduruthy bridge in broad daylight.
She was travelling in a two-wheeler from her house in Panampilly Nagar to Kendriya Vidyalaya, INS Dronacharya, Fort Kochi, where she worked then as a office superintendent. “A car hit her vehicle and she was thrown on the road. She was admitted in intensive care unit for 13 days, with eight fractured ribs, head injuries, bleeding from ears, contusion of liver and injury to lungs. She still has bouts of pain and the accident affected her ability to taste food,” said P.N. Vijayan, her husband, who served as principal of a few schools.
The credit for taking her to hospital on time goes to Govind Shenoy of Mattanchery. He even paid for initial scanning, Mr. Vijayan said.
Witnesses remember part of the Hyundai car’s registration number as KL-07-BN. Surveillance cameras before and after the bridge failed to identify the vehicle. Though police traced owners of 10 such cars, they were unable to get any clue.
Role of public
Circle Inspector of Edappally Traffic Police T.R. Jayakumar said that in the event of an accident, most people are busy arranging a vehicle to take victims to hospital. “Then there are others busy recording gory accident scenes. Instead, they must also record details like registration number and take photo/video of motorists involved in the accident who are likely to escape. Policemen cannot be present everywhere. Errant drivers fail to realise that rushing victims to hospital on time can save precious life.”