Team Mangalorean - Bantwal
from Rajesh Amtady

Bantwal: In a freak road mishap which involved a long-distance luxury bus and three cars at Brahmarakotlu near here in the early hours of Sunday, five persons were injured.

A CPC Logistics luxury bus plying from Bangalore to Mangalore collided with a Ford Figo car driven by Prakash Rao from the city. His wife and daughter too were with him and they were on their way to Dharmasthala.  A Toyota Innova car coming from behind hit the car, which in turn was hit by another car from behind.

With the total impact the Ford Figo car got pushed underneath the bus. Residents and passersby who came to the rescue had a tough time in pulling out the injured. Pradeep and Poornima, who were in the Innova car, were also injured. The condition of the three members of the Rao family is said to be critical.

Traffic was disrupted for some time. The Bantwal police rushed to the spot and cleared the jam.

The dual carriageway between Padil and B C Road has a two-lane single road stretch near the Brahmasthana at Brahmarakotlu. The highway authority has not converted it into a dual carriageway because of the refusal of the local people to shift the Brahmasthana from there. Besides the one mentioned here, there have been several mishaps taking on this single stretch.