Karnataka: One Dead, Over 20 Injured as Tourist Bus From Ballari to Goa Overturns on NH-52

One person died and 20 others were injured after a tourist bus travelling from Ballari to Goa overturned on NH-52 near Ankola in Karnataka's Uttara Kannada district. The accident disrupted traffic for hours as rescue operations continued.

A major road accident occurred in Uttara Kannada district's Ankola taluk on Saturday when a private tourist bus lost control and overturned on National Highway 52 near Kanchinabagilu. One passenger died on the spot, while more than 20 others sustained serious injuries in the mishap. The accident caused panic among passengers and disrupted traffic on the busy highway for several hours.

The bus, operated by the Sea Bird company, was carrying tourists from Ballari to Goa when the accident occurred on the Ankola-Yellapur stretch of National Highway 52. Preliminary reports suggest that overspeeding and the driver losing control of the vehicle may have led to the crash. The bus overturned and blocked the highway, while several passengers were trapped inside. A total of 36 passengers were travelling in the vehicle at the time of the accident.

Passenger Dies in the Accident

The impact of the crash was severe. Sharanaiah (42), a resident of Andhra Pradesh, died on the spot after sustaining fatal injuries and suffering excessive blood loss.

Of the 36 passengers on board, more than 20 sustained serious injuries, while several others escaped with minor injuries. Local residents and police personnel rushed to the scene and immediately launched rescue operations.

Injured Shifted to Hospitals

All the injured passengers were initially taken to Ankola Taluk Hospital for treatment. Those requiring specialised medical care were later shifted to the Karwar Institute of Medical Sciences (KRIMS) for further treatment.

Hospital authorities are monitoring the condition of the injured passengers, some of whom are reported to be in a serious condition.

Traffic Disrupted on National Highway 52

The overturned bus came to rest across the middle of National Highway 52, completely blocking traffic on the Ankola-Yellapur route.

As a result, vehicles were stranded in long queues stretching several kilometres on both sides of the highway, causing a major traffic jam. Ankola police later deployed a crane to remove the bus and restore vehicular movement.

Police Register Case

Police have registered a case in connection with the accident and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Officials are examining whether overspeeding, driver error or other factors contributed to the incident.