21-year-old college student dies in accident involving BMTC bus

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: In a tragic incident, a 21-year-old engineering student died on the spot after her scooter collided with a Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus near Harishchandra Ghat near Malleswaram on Friday morning here.

The traffic police identified the deceased as Kusumitha, 21, a resident of Malleswaram and a second year engineering student in a private college at Kengeri.

The police said that the student was on her way to college around 8:30 am when the incident took place.

It was learnt that usually Kusumitha used to reach Mahakavi Kuvempu metro station by her scooter and then take the metro to reach her college in Kengeri.

According to sources, the student was attempting to overtake the bus from the left side when she lost balance of her scooter and fell to the side of the moving bus.

Local residents and motorists who witnessed the accident rushed to help the girl but she had been dragged by the bus for a little distance and suffered severe injuries by then.

As the people gathered around the bus, the driver allegedly fled the spot. The student was immediately taken to a hospital, where she was declared 'brought dead.'

Kusumitha’s father vented his anger saying BMTC drivers should be more careful during peak hours.

"We got to know about the accident only after half an hour," he said.

A footage captured by the CCTV installed inside the BMTC bus was shared later in the day by the BMTC who issued a clarification on the incident.

"On careful inspection of the video clip, a twowheeler rider overtook the bus from the left side near Gayatri Nagar while operating from Shivajinagar to Kamala Nagar. While trying to do so, the two-wheeler skidded and fell on the left rear wheel of the bus as there was an auto on the opposite side," the BMTC spokesperson said on Friday evening.

The bus driver was later taken into custody by the police. Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said disciplinary action will be taken against the BMTC driver if he is at fault.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Traffic, Bengaluru East, Sarah Fathima said that the bus brushed against the scooter when Kusumitha was on her way to college and dragged her for a little distance around 8.30 am.

"The bus did not run over her, but she died due to the injuries. We have arrested the driver and taken up further investigation," she said. The BMTC officials have been summoned for investigation, the official added.