College student killed, 45 injured as KSRTC bus topples in Karnataka

A KSRTC bus travelling from Davanagere to Honnali allegedly toppled after its rear axle broke, killing 23-year-old college student Darshan and injuring around 45 passengers. Six seriously injured victims were shifted to hospital, while police registered a negligence case against the bus driver

Davanagere (Karnataka): A college student was killed and nearly 45 passengers were injured after a KSRTC bus they were travelling in allegedly toppled in this district on Friday after the driver lost control of the vehicle, police said. The deceased, Darshan (23), a resident of Kundru village in Honnali taluk, was pursuing a B Com degree. He was commuting on the bus to attend college when the accident occurred, they said.

Most of the injured sustained minor injuries and are being treated at a hospital in Davanagere. Six others with grievous injuries have been shifted to Manipal Hospital, police added. According to police, the bus was travelling from Davanagere to Honnali when the accident occurred near Marabanahalli in Channagiri taluk of the district.

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The accident is believed to have occurred after the rear axle of the bus allegedly broke, causing the driver to lose control and the vehicle to topple, a senior police officer said. Following the accident, locals gathered at the spot and expressed anguish over the lack of sufficient KSRTC buses on the route. The situation was later brought under control, he said.

“In the accident, a college student succumbed to his injuries, while about 45 passengers were injured. Most of them sustained minor injuries, including the bus driver. Six of them, who sustained grievous injuries, have been shifted to Manipal Hospital,” Shekhar H Tekkannavar, Superintendent of Police, Davanagere said.

A case has been registered against the bus driver for causing death by negligence, and further investigation is underway, he said.