Bus rams tanker, truck; 3 dead

Udupi: Three persons died and several others were injured in a road accident involving a private bus, a tanker and a truck on National Highway-66 near Byndoor in Udupi district on Wednesday.Police said the accident occurred around 1.30pm when the bus was travelling from Byndoor towards Kundapur. The driver, who allegedly was driving at high speed in a rash and negligent manner, moved to the extreme left side of the road and crashed into the front right side of a stationary petroleum tanker parked on the mud shoulder. Following the initial impact, the driver lost control of the bus, which then rammed the rear of a stationary truck parked ahead on the same side. The front portion of the bus was completely mangled in the collision.Bus had students, staff from Shivamogga collegeThe bus was carrying final year BCom students of Rambahapuri College under Kuvempu University, Shankaraghatta, Shivamogga district, who were on an educational tour since April 26. They visited places, including Dandeli and Honnavar, and were heading towards Trasi-Maravanthe Beach when the accident occurred. About 47 people including teachers, support staff, an additional driver and a cleaner were also among those on board. Passengers trapped inside the bus were rescued, and the injured were shifted to hospitals by ambulance. Among them, three persons sustained severe bleeding injuries and were unconscious at the scene. They were rushed to a hospital but later succumbed to their injuries. The deceased are Raghu alias Umesh, spare driver, Ranganath, cleaner, and Hemanth, a cook.Many of the injured have been admitted as inpatients at Kundapur Adarsha Hospital, Manipal Hospital, Kundapur Govt Hospital and Chinmayi Hospital. Police said three students are undergoing surgeries, but are out of danger.Police said the accident was caused due to the rash and negligent driving by the bus driver, Manjunath. A case has been registered against him at Gangolli police station under Sections 281, 125(a) and 106 of the BNS.Senior police officials, including Udupi SP Hariram Shankar, Dy SP (Kundapur sub-division) HD Kulkarni, circle inspector Shivakumar B, and Gangolli police station officers PSI Pawan Nayak and PSI Sudarshan BN, visited the accident site.