Chamarajanagar: Two Devotees Killed, 42 Injured After KSRTC Bus Overturns Near Male Mahadeshwara Hills

A KSRTC bus carrying devotees overturned near Madhuvanahalli in Chamarajanagar district while travelling from Male Mahadeshwara Hills to Mysuru, killing two passengers and injuring 42 others. Police suspect overspeeding. Rescue operations were carried out immediately.

A pilgrimage to the famous Male Mahadeshwara Hills ended in tragedy on Sunday after a KSRTC bus carrying devotees overturned near Madhuvanahalli in Chamarajanagar district, leaving two people dead and 42 others injured. Police suspect that overspeeding and rash driving led to the accident. The impact of the crash was so severe that the bus overturned after colliding with a roadside signboard. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.

How the Accident Occurred?

The KSRTC bus was travelling from Male Mahadeshwara Hills to Mysuru with 44 passengers on board.

According to preliminary information, the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle near Madhuvanahalli, causing the bus to crash into a roadside signboard. The impact reportedly caused one of the tyres to burst, after which the bus overturned onto the roadside.

Eyewitnesses said the bus eventually came to a halt after hitting a neem tree. They believe the tree prevented the vehicle from rolling further, thereby averting an even bigger tragedy.

Two Dead, 42 Injured

The two victims who died on the spot have been identified as Puttananjamma, a resident of Kollegala town, and Mahesh, a resident of Kuderu village.

Of the 42 injured passengers, 21 sustained serious injuries and were shifted to district hospitals in Mysuru and Chamarajanagar for advanced treatment.

The remaining 21 passengers are undergoing treatment at the Kollegala Government Hospital.

When ambulances were insufficient to transport all the injured, local residents and private vehicle owners stepped forward to assist by taking several victims to hospital in their own vehicles.

Police Suspect Overspeeding

Chamarajanagar Superintendent of Police Muthuraj visited the accident site and inspected the scene.

Speaking to reporters, he said, "Prima facie, overspeeding appears to have caused the accident. The tyre burst after the bus collided with the signboard."

He added that police had already identified accident-prone black spots across the district and taken preventive measures. He also assured that appropriate action would be taken after the investigation.

Passenger Alleges Driver Was Speeding

One of the passengers alleged that the driver had been driving at excessive speed from the time the bus began descending the Male Mahadeshwara Hills.

"The driver was speeding from the moment we started coming down the hill. We narrowly escaped an accident once earlier, but his negligence has now claimed two lives," the passenger alleged.

Police are continuing their investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident.