Bengaluru’s pothole problem has long been a matter of concern, prompting the Karnataka government to launch several initiatives to address the issue. However, the menace turned deadly on Monday when a 22-year-old college student lost her life in a tragic accident after she fell off her two-wheeler while trying to avoid a pothole in North Bengaluru. The victim, identified as Dhanushree, was a second-year B.Com student.
According to the police, the accident happened when she tried to avoid a deep pothole. She lost her balance and fell onto the road. A tipper lorry travelling behind her ran over her, killing her instantly.
The impact was severe, with the student’s head crushed under the truck’s wheels, according to an IANS report. The lorry driver fled the scene without stopping.
An FIR has been registered in connection with the hit-and-run case, and officials are working to trace and apprehend the driver.
The body has been taken to a private hospital.
This fatal accident comes at a time when the Karnataka government is under mounting pressure to fix the city’s damaged roads. On August 27, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced a 30-day deadline for officials to repair every pothole in Bengaluru and make roads safe for commuters.
“I have given instructions to fill potholes and to maintain quality in the work. I have suspended an assistant executive engineer as he had left a pothole just by filling gravel without putting tar or wet mix," the Chief Minister said.
He further warned that commissioners and chief engineers of the five city corporations would be held accountable for lapses. Siddaramaiah also pointed out that white topping work was underway on Hennur Road, with costs amounting to Rs 13 crore per kilometre for the 5 km stretch.
The poor state of roads has triggered widespread anger, with businesses and prominent citizens speaking out. Recently, logistics company BlackBuck announced plans to relocate its office from Bellandur, citing road infrastructure problems.
Amid the potholes issue, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s former additional chief secretary, LK Atheeq, has raised concerns over poor conditions of roads in Bengaluru, calling them “unsafe" amid growing public criticism.
Taking to X, he wrote,"Took out my bike late in the night & rode to MG Rd & Brigade Rd. Patchwork has made the undulating make it unsafe for Minor fixes / use of good equipment can make the roads smooth & safe for rides/drives.(sic)."
Earlier this month, a video showing the damaged roads and broken footpaths outside Google’s Bengaluru office went viral on social media.
Source: News18