Stany Bela
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Jun 19: A shocking video of a two-wheeler rider miraculously escaping with a minor injury after ramming into a car on the airport road near Bondel has once a again highlighted the risk of travelling down this stretch that has been witnessing frequent accidents.
The video, which has gone viral, is from CCTV footage from a nearby establishment. A car is seen taking a U-turn, and a scooter approaching at a high speed rams into the car. The rider gets thrown over the car, before landing on the road. Locals and passers-by are seen rushing to his help and making arrangements to shift him to hospital. The rider luckily escaped with a minor injury.
Following the accident, residents of the area have yet again blamed the traffic police department for not taking adequate action against carelessness and irresponsibility, apart from reckless driving, that cause the frequent accidents. They have further demanded barricades to be installed on Bondel-Padavinangady stretch. If the police do not adhere to their requests, locals have decided to protest by blocking the road.
In January last year, Bondel and Kavoor residents had staged a protest against the administration after the death of NRI Ronald Noronha on the Mary Hill-Kavoor stretch. In October 2017, a rider was seriously injured when an unidentified vehicle rammed into his scooter and sped away. These are only two of the several accidents that have taken place in the vicinity.
Speaking to daijiworld, Dinakar, a resident of Pachanady said, "This is 7th accident in the last one month at the same spot. In between Padavinangady and Bondel junction, accidents are a daily story because of speeding and unexpected cross roads. Vehicles heading towards the airport and the city especially VIPs and from states like Kerala, are always moving at high speeds, thus putting themselves and others in danger. Two-wheeler riders use this road for stunts as there no barricades or speed-breakers on this road. There are educational institutions on either sides of the road from KPT to Bondel junction. But we hardly see any traffic wardens or the presence of police. People struggle to cross the road because of speed and frequency of approaching vehicles.”
A teacher from St Lawrence School, Bondel said, "We are scared to see the fast approaching vehicles on this road. Crossing the road for children is like an adventure fraught with danger here. Many times security guards and locals help children cross the road. Vehicles do not care about pedestrians. In a day, at least three to four times, we hear the screeching sound of sudden brakes. Barricades are the only solution to control the speed of vehicles on this road."
Manu, an employee of a private firm at Padavinangady says, "I ride my two-wheeler three to four times in front of Bondel church. I see school children every morning and evening struggling to cross the road. The vehicles, especially heading towards the airport pass at high speeds as there is a steep slope in front of the church. God only should save small kids and pedestrians in this area.
"We have repeatedly requested the departments concerned to take action. We were told that as the road is 'VIP road' which is used by politicians, barricades cannot be installed. We cannot understand the logic behind this reply. Are VIPs more important than lives of common people?" he questioned.
Manjunath Shetty, ACP, traffic department said, "We know the issues on this road and we are ready to install speed-breakers here. A stock of plastic humps is lying in our department office. Months ago, we started fixing them to the roads, but unexpectedly, someone complained to Lokayukta that it was unscientific. Then Lokayukta filed a suo moto case and inquiry is in progress. So it is difficult for us to fix humps on the roads. Meanwhile, we are doing all arrangements for the safety of pedestrians. In the case of airport road, especially in front Bondel church, we will take action at the earliest."
Watch CCTV footage