Driver and conductor killed as Kozhikode-Bengaluru KSRTC bus overturns near Bidadi

Two people were killed and 25 others injured after a Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus travelling to Bengaluru overturned after crashing into a directional signboard on the Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway near Avaragere Gate in Bengaluru South district on Saturday, August 8.The deceased have been identified as Mithan and Arun Kumar, the conductor and driver of the bus, respectively. Both were from Kerala and were in their 40s. A senior police officer from Bidadi said one of the 25 injured passengers is in critical condition after suffering severe head injuries.The accident occurred around 6.30 am when the bus veered to the left and rammed into a directional signboard before overturning. A passenger alerted the police, following which personnel from the Bidadi police and fire department launched a rescue operation.The injured were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. Several passengers suffered injuries to their hands, legs and upper body, though most were reported to be out of danger.Police suspect the driver may have felt drowsy, as the bus veered sharply toward the side of the road, indicating a possible loss of control. However, officials said the exact cause of the accident would be established after a detailed investigation.The Bidadi police have registered an FIR under the relevant provision of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) relating to causing death by negligence.The bodies of the driver and conductor have been kept at nearby hospitals, and their families have been informed. The bodies will be handed over to their families after they arrive in Bengaluru.Traffic on the highway was briefly disrupted after debris from the bus fell onto the road, posing a risk to other motorists. Police and emergency personnel cleared the debris and restored traffic movement, the officer said.