Mangalore: They came on summer vacation, but accident snatched away their young lives
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)
Updated: May 13
Mangalore, May 13: Eleven-year-old Nishmitha and her sister, nine-year-old Manisha had come from Mumbai to Mangalore to enjoy their summer vacation, but not only their vacation, but life itself came to a sudden and tragic end in a ghastly accident at Padre Mukka here on Monday May 12. Their young uncle, Sunil alias Naveen, all of just 24 years, also died in the accident.
The accident occurred when Sunil was taking his elder sister, Savita, and her daughters, Nishmitha and Manisha, to the home of his other elder sister at Mukka Padre. Savita, who normally lives in Mumbai with her hotelier husband, was on a visit to native place. Sunil, who earlier worked with Savita's husband in Mumbai, had shifted to his village six months back, and started working as auto rickshaw driver.
The family of Savita intended to participate in an auspicious function arranged at her elder sister's house at Padre, and visit her in-law's home at Madhya village to take part in the annual festival of Sri Khadgeshwara Khadgeshwari temple in that village on May 13.
Initially the people at the spot thought that there were no passengers in the auto rickshaw. Savita was tossed into the roadside drain due to the force of the accident. The auto rickshaw had got mangled and crushed under the truck, and part of it was buried under the mud.
Onlookers said they heard Nishmitha crying for sometime. Perhaps she died thereafter as the rescue operation took lot of time. The police assisted by locals faced lot of difficulties in bringing the auto rickshaw out with the help of a JCB and bringing out the bodies. As a result, over an hour was spent for this purpose, causing long line of vehicles on the highway.
The accident not only exhibited the hazards caused by the incomplete highway widening work, but also the insensitiveness of road users who caused traffic bottlenecks by parking their vehicles on the road after the accident and recorded the events which unfolded at the spot of the accident in their cell phones.
MLA Mohiuddin Bava visited the residence of the family in Ulaibettu to console the family members. He also visited Savita, who was being treated at Suratkal primary health centre. He summoned national highway authorities and asked them to execute highway widening work on a war footing. The officials explained that road works had been affected because of the election.
Suratkal station house officer, M A Nataraj, sub-inspector, Kumareshan, and other staff got involved with the rescue operation. A case was registered in this connection and investigation was taken up.
Earlier Report: May 12
Mangalore: Three dead as truck smashes into auto at Suratkal
Sunil Haleangady
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (DV)
Mangalore, May 12: Three persons died in an accident near NIT-K at Padre, Suratkal here on Monday May 12.
The accident occurred when a truck ran over an auto rickshaw.
The deceased have been identified as Sunil (24), and his nieces Nishmitha (11) and Manisha (9).
Nishmitha's and Manisha's mother Savita was injured in the accident. Sunil was Savita's younger brother.
It is said that the family is from Mumbai and had come to Mangalore on vacation, and had been staying at Ulaibettu. On Monday, they were on their way to Savita's elder sister's house at Padre when the accident took place.
It is said that when the auto rickshaw was taking a right turn at Padre, the truck rammed into it.
It is said that at first the locals thought there were no passengers in the mangled auto rickshaw, but on checking, three bodies of a man and two children were recovered.
Sources said that the truck was coming from Gadag.
Savita who sustained serious injuries was admitted to a nearby hospital.
Nishmitha and Manisha were Savita's only children, family sources said.
Suratkal police have registered a case.