Bantwal: Steep curve on NH 75 death-knell at Mulikanda, Thumbe; Tanker driver dies

Bellevision Media Network

Bantwal, 14 Feb 2016: A driver of bullet tanker transporting LPG to Bengaluru died, when the truck hit the divider and roller over in the middle of the road on Mangaluru – Bengaluru NH 75 at Thumbe, near here on Sunday February 14 at about 3.00pm.

 

The deceased has been identified as 27-year-old Jayaprakash N, a resident of Naduvalloor in Gangavalli taluk of Selam district, Tamil Nadu.

 

No sooner the incident was reported, the fire brigades from Bantwal, Mangaluru and Puttur arrived at the spot and the fire fighters have taken precautions for any possible leakage of LPG.  They evicted the residents of nearby homes.  The diesel was leaking from the fuel tank that was the major concern of the fire fighters.

 

 

The traffic was stalled in the highway and one-way traffic was allowed from Nettarakere Junction towards Thumbe, here.

 

Bantwal rural sub-inspector Rakshit Gowda instructed MRPL officials to arrive at the spot at the earliest in clearing the overturned tanker.  Meanwhile, they have arrived only after nearly 2 hours.

 

No cleaner

As per the RTA rules, every bullet tanker should have 2 drivers and one cleaner, while the deceased driver was lone driving the tanker.  The police are likely to take legal action on MRPL for violating the norms.

 

Highway authorities responsible

The locals complain that the unscientific curve at Mulikanda, Thumbe, here is causing a series of mishaps daily owing to unscientific road.  The motorists least expect a curve on the smooth highways that results in mishaps.  The sand trucks with uncovered payload drops the sand on the road that gets accumulated and poses threat to motorists.

 

The locals Prakash B Shetty, Samad Kaikamba and friends, Ashok Kajekanda, Prashant Kottary, Shekar Thumbe and others helped in taking the critically injured truck driver to the nearby hospital.

 

Bantwal mobile sub-inspector Chandrashekarayya, circle inspector K U Belliappa and others painstakingly worked in restoring normal traffic.  A case has been registered with mobile police.