Tragic Bengaluru Accident: School Bus Kills Two Young Cousins After Scooter Collision
A devastating road accident in Bengaluru has claimed the lives of two young children, sending shockwaves through the community. On Wednesday morning, a school bus rammed into a scooter carrying a police head constable's two-year-old daughter and four-year-old niece, resulting in their tragic deaths.
Details of the Fatal Incident
The accident occurred at approximately 8:17 am near the police quarters in Hegde Nagar, under the jurisdiction of the Hennur traffic police station in north Bengaluru. According to police reports, City Armed Reserve head constable Naganagouda Malipatil was riding his scooter from the PTS side of Thanisandra towards Hegde Nagar with his daughter Varsha and niece Bhanu on board.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the school bus, driven by 42-year-old Marappa, collided with the scooter while taking a turn from a cross road. The impact caused the children to fall onto the road, where they were subsequently run over by the bus. Both Varsha and Bhanu sustained fatal injuries and were declared dead at the scene. Naganagouda escaped with minor injuries.
Driver's Account and Police Action
Authorities have confirmed that the bus driver was not under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. When questioned, Marappa stated that while making the turn, he was too close to an apartment wall and swerved left to avoid hitting it, leading to the collision with the scooter.
CCTV footage from the area corroborates this account, showing the bus hitting the scooter during a right turn on a narrow stretch, coming dangerously close to the wall before straightening out. The police have taken Marappa into custody and registered a case against him for rash and negligent driving.
Community Impact and Investigation
The incident, which happened during peak school hours, has deeply affected the residents of the CAR North residential quarters, where the constable's family lives. The bodies of the young girls were shifted to Yelahanka Government Hospital for a postmortem examination.
Police officials have emphasized that further investigation is ongoing to determine all contributing factors to this heartbreaking tragedy. The case highlights ongoing concerns about road safety in Bengaluru, particularly during busy morning hours.
