Accident exposes poor bus services in rural areas,Driver arrested by Pavagada police

Pramesh S Jain & Yogesh K Porwar

The Pavagada police on Sunday arrested the driver of the private bus which killed six persons including three students and injured 53 people in a freak accident on Saturday morning.

The accused,Raghu,33,who was also sustained injuries but out of danger was arrested while he was taking treatment and was taken into custody,a senior officer,said .

He was subjected to medical examination before he was produced before the magistrate and taken into custody for further investigations.

The police also found the conductor identified as Murali,who was also injured and getting treatment at the hospital .

Raghu told the police that while negotiating a curve the steering jammed and the vehicle went out of control and led to the accident.

However the police are not buying this theory as they are awaiting the report from the team of inspectors from transport department to give a report.

The police are also waiting medical report to ascertain whether Raghu was under any form of intoxication while driving .

The conductor Murali,who joined the work four months ago,said that despite his warning people would get into the bus .

The heavy rush was due to cancellation of other two buses and the villagers would beat me if he did not stop the bus to pick them up,he said.

Meanwhile,45 injured admitted with multiple injuries and admitted in Pavagada and Tumakuru hospital were recovering .

As many as eight patients admitted in the hospital recovered and discharged on Sunday,a police officer said .

The injured recovering at the hospital blamed the poor bus service in the village leading to so many deaths.

The last rites of Amulya and Harshitha sisters who were killed in the accident were performed at potaganahalli, village on Sunday.

Younger brother were inconsolably saying they would get me snacks everyday from the town.I would eat and play with them,now they are gone .

The sister of Dadavali from neelammanahalli , pursuing her 10th standard at Pavagada is supposed to go with her brother but she missed the bus.

I could be have been killed if i had gone with my brother.I request the government to put more buses so that the people can commute and not die like this, she said .

The police are yet to arrest the owner of the bus . We will question the driver and the conductor before taking legal action against the owner he added.