A woman riding pillion on a two-wheeler was killed on Tuesday, 10 October, when a truck rammed into the vehicle while the rider was trying to avoid a pothole near Devanahalli, Bengaluru police said.
With this, four people have died in road accidents this month because of the battered condition of some of the roads.
Police said G Veena (21), a resident of Kundana in Devanahalli, was heading home riding pillion with her elder sister G Lakshmi (24).
At the Shettarahalli gate, while trying to avoid a pothole, Lakshmi slowed the two-wheeler down, when a truck hit them from behind.
As the women fell off the vehicle, the truck ran over Veena, killing her instantly. Lakshmi too sustained serious injuries. She has been admitted to a nearby hospital, the police said.
Angry residents blocked the road protesting the pathetic condition of the road.
Police have registered a case against the truck driver, who fled the spot leaving his vehicle.
Government and Municipal Body Under Fire
Facing heat over battered city roads that have claimed four lives in this month itself and left scores of others injured, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday directed the civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to make the city roads pothole free within a fortnight.
A total number of four deaths have been recorded within this month due to severe road conditions.
The State government and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) came under sharp criticism following the incident, as the families of the victims have mostly blamed the government for neglecting the issue.
Unprecedented Rainfall is the Main Cause: CM
Due to the heavy rains and frequent flooding in the region, the roads have been torn into shreds. The city’s 14,000 kilometer road network have a total of more than 15,000 potholes presently, which the BBMP claims can only be fixed once the rain stops.
On Tuesday, the Chief Minister visited the spot where the incident took place along with Bengaluru Mayor S Sampath Raj and BBMP commissioner N Manjunath Prasad.
Speaking to reporters, Siddaramaiah said unprecedented rains this year had badly damaged the city roads.
This year we received rains like never before, due to which potholes have surfaced on the road. This accident should not have happened. No one should die. I condole the death of the woman. Compensation to the family of the deceased has already been given.Siddaramaiah, Karnataka Chief Minister
Siddaramaiah said he had directed the mayor to make the city pothole-free in a fortnight.
This is the first step. Our next step will be to asphalt and white-top important roads. Wherever the Metro Rail is coming up, such roads have been handed over to the Bengaluru Metro Rail.
The Chief Minister said he had directed the Metro Rail managing Director P S Kharola to get the roads asphalted.
Fourth Death This Month
On Sunday, a woman named Radha Ajanappa (47) died when a truck ran over her at Pantharapalya near Nayandahalli. Ms Ajanappa was riding pillion with her nephew on a bike. Her nephew lost balance as she swerved the vehicle in order to avoid a pothole. Both Ms Ajanappa and her nephew Ravi Kumar were wearing helmets, but as Ms Ajanappa was thrown under the truck, the truck's front wheels ran over her neck and she died on the spot.
A similar incident occurred a few days back as an old couple was killed when a bus hit their two wheeler from the rear. The couple was returning from the hospital with their granddaughter when the incident took place on Mysuru road flyover, where the motorist slowed his bike down to avoid a pothole and was hit by the bus from behind.
Their granddaughter escaped with minor injuries.
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(With inputs from PTI)
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