Bus rams into tree

Miraculous escape for passengers, but the tree was uprooted

The driver, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, rammed into the tree in HSR Layout, Bengaluru, on Wednesday.

Around 15 passengers had a narrow escape when a private bus driver, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, rammed into a tree on HSR Layout main road on Wednesday at 11.30 a.m.

Nobody was seriously injured, but the huge tree was uprooted. The bus overturned in the middle of the road, blocking traffic near HSR Layout traffic police station for over half-an-hour.

The passengers and driver were trapped inside and the police roped in fire and emergency services as well as Army personnel to rescue them. Those who suffered minor injures were taken to Sakra Hospital, said a police officer.

Passers-by and local residents pitched in to administer first aid and clear the debris from the road. Passing motorists volunteered to shift the injured to the hospital.The bus was heading to Tin Factory from Banashankari.

“The driver, Kiran Kumar (25), was drunk as per the alcometer reading,” Inspector Rao Ganesh told The Hindu . He has been arrested and remanded in judicial custody.

Police say the alcometer reading revealed that the driver was drunk