KOCHI: A two-wheeler rider waiting at the Madavana traffic signal on NH 66, near Panangad, died on Sunday as an interstate bus flipped onto its side and fell on him after hitting the signal post. The 42 passengers on the bus — proceeding from Bengaluru to Varkala — had a narrow escape, with 13 of them suffering injuries.
Jijo Sebastian, 33, belonging to Vagamon in Idukki, who got trapped under the overturned private bus, was rushed to a hospital nearby, where he was declared dead on arrival. He was working at a textile showroom in Kochi.
According to eyewitnesses, the bus was speeding towards the traffic signal. However, the signal turned red as the bus approached it. The driver applied the brake, causing the vehicle to skid and hit the median before tilting and falling on the bike rider, they said.
Following the accident, the people in the vicinity, including autorickshaw drivers at the junction, rushed to the site and brought out the bus passengers, in some cases after breaking the windows.
The accident on the Kundannoor-Aroor stretch of the national highway happened around 10 am, and the road was wet from rain. “I was sitting on the left side of the bus. It suddenly hit the median and overturned. I realised that the bus had met with an accident, but I don’t remember anything after that,” said Arya, a native of Kannur and one of the injured.
Bus driver arrested for rash, negligent driving
The 13 passengers who sustained injuries were taken to VPS Lakeshore Hospital. “Three persons have suffered spinal injuries and are undergoing treatment. The other passengers have only minor injuries,” said the hospital spokesman. By evening, eight of them were discharged.
The Panangad police have registered a case against the bus driver under section 304A (for negligent and rash driving causing death). “We have arrested the bus driver, Palpandy, a Tenkasi native. Jagatheesh and Raghavendra, two other crew members, have also been taken into custody,” said an official with the Panangad Police Station.
Anjaly, 44, a resident of Kollam, who was returning from Bengaluru, said she was asleep when the accident occurred. “The bus hit somewhere and overturned. Bags and other items fell on me. Later, I saw someone trying to take me out of the bus. I suffered a strain on my hand,” said Anjali.
“The bus was at its usual speed. All of a sudden, it hit something and overturned onto a bike waiting on the left side. I suffered a head injury and started bleeding. Before I could understand what had happened, I saw a man breaking the window glass using a hammer and rushed me to the hospital,” said Ravi Kumar Shaw, another passenger. Ravi Kumar and Sujhan Shaw -- both natives of Jharkhand and working at a textile shop in Kollam, were returning from Bengaluru after purchasing dress materials.
The mortal remains of Jijo will be handed over to the family on Monday after the post-mortem. “The body was handed over to the Ernakulam Medical College Hospital after the inquest,” said the police official.
