A routine ride home after a dental appointment turned into a nightmare for 46-year-old Shaziya, who now faces months of recovery after a loose optical fibre cable allegedly snagged her scooter and threw her onto the road in Bengaluru.
The incident occurred around 7.15pm on June 9 on the service road at Kalyan Nagar. Shaziya was returning home with her 17-year-old daughter when the cable suddenly became entangled with the scooter's handlebar, causing her to lose control and crash. "I don't know what happened. Suddenly the cable got caught in my handle, I couldn't ride… lost control and I fell," she said.
The fall left her with four fractures in her ankle. She was rushed to a hospital, where doctors performed a major surgery, inserting two rods and 13 screws to stabilise the shattered bones. After several days of treatment, she was discharged on June 12. But the road to recovery is expected to be long and painful. Her daughter, who was riding pillion, escaped with minor injuries.
The accident has also taken a heavy financial toll on the family. Medical expenses have already crossed Rs 2.3 lakh. With her husband working abroad, arranging funds for the surgery and treatment became an additional challenge during an already traumatic time. Shaziya's brother, Imran Rasheed, said the accident took place on a poorly lit stretch of road and could easily have turned fatal had another vehicle been approaching from behind. "By god's grace, there was no vehicle immediately behind them. If a bus or a speeding car had been there, the consequences would have been much more serious," he said.
Rasheed, who lives in JP Nagar while his sister resides in north Bengaluru, said he received a distress call moments after the accident and had to urgently coordinate with friends and acquaintances nearby to help her until family members arrived. What is even more alarming, according to Shaziya, is that the cable continued to pose a threat after her fall. As she sat injured by the roadside waiting for assistance, she allegedly saw the same cable snag the side mirror of a passing autorickshaw.
"I don't know how many more people have encountered it; this cable issue has gone too far. After my fall, I heard of similar accidents from others too," she said.
A Growing Concern
The incident has once again put the spotlight on the growing menace of hanging and abandoned telecom cables in the city. "I see loose and hanging internet cables in many parts of Bengaluru. People may ignore them, but they are extremely dangerous for two-wheeler riders. What happened to my sister shows how a neglected cable can change a family's life in a matter of seconds. This is a serious safety issue and the authorities must act before another accident occurs," said Rasheed.
Shaziya expressed hope that her experience will serve as a warning and prompt the authorities into action. "So many people travel by bike every day. These cables should not become a danger to their lives," she said. Meanwhile, civic authorities said they would attend to the loose cable and ensure the safety of motorists.
