Retired DDPI and son die on spot after car and govt bus collision in Gadag

GADAG: A retired deputy director of public instruction (DDPI) and his son died on the spot after their car collided with a government bus on the national highway near Lakkundi in the taluk. The deceased were identified as H Balraj (65) and his son Vinay (32).

The deceased were residents of Hosapeet. Balraj had retired while Vinay was a professor. The incident took place while they were travelling from Hosapete to Hubballi via Gadag.

The bus  belonging to Gadag depot was on its way from Gadag to Koppal. The speeding car collided with the government bus while taking a turn on the highway while going to Lakkundi village. The car was completely crushed and the bus overturned on the highway.

Locals had struggled to extricate the bodies of the deceased from the car. The Police, fire brigade, NHAI personnel and the transport department officials helped remove the bodies from the car with the help of a crane.

Over 40 people were traveling in the bus and about 10 people sustained minor injuries. The injured have been admitted to Gadag GIMS Hospital for treatment.

Following the accident, the public demanded that a flyover and service road should be built to reach Lakkundi village from the highway and that solar signalling and CCTV cameras should be installed. It is said that about seven major accidents have taken place in the last four months due to unscientific road turns.

The locals demanded that a service road and underpass/overpass should be built soon  to avoid untoward accidents.  A case has been registered at the Gadag Rural police station.