Date:25/02/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/02/25/stories/2005022517440300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Several vehicles damaged in road accident

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, FEB. 24. At least a dozen vehicles were damaged in a road accident that was caused by a school bus near the GPO Circle here on Thursday. Several students of Bishop Cottons Girl High School who were returning home in their school bus had a miraculous escape.

The police said that around 4 p.m. a Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus, which has been taken on hire by the school, was on its way towards GPO Circle from Queen's Statute Circle.

As the bus was nearing the traffic signal at GPO Circle, it rammed a multi-utility vehicle and a car that had stopped at the signal.

The impact was such that the multi-utility vehicle and the car in turn hit vehicles that were in front of them as well on their sides, the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic-Central), K. Eshwar Prasad, said.

Apart from these three vehicles, two autorickshaws, two vans and at least seven two-wheelers were damaged in the accident. A little girl, who was in one of the autorickshaws, fainted. She was rushed to a private hospital in a police vehicle. She has recovered, the police said. The students in the bus, who too were shocked by the accident, were seen crying. On learning about the accident, some parents rushed to the spot and took their children home in their vehicles.

The bus driver fled the scene after abandoning the vehicle. The public alleged that the driver was drunk. The Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic East), M. Abdullah Saleem, told The Hindu that the driver had been arrested and subjected to medical examination. "We are yet to ascertain whether he was drunk," he said.