A Piriyapatna bus crash on BM Road near Kirnal Gate in Mysuru district killed four people and seriously injured more than 35 passengers early Friday, after a private sleeper coach travelling from Bengaluru towards Kerala collided with a lorry.
The deceased include the bus driver, who died at the scene. The report by Prajavani said the collision left the bus severely damaged, with several passengers trapped inside. Local residents, police personnel and fire and rescue staff reached the site and began extracting those injured.
Passengers were taken by ambulance to the Piriyapatna Public Hospital and Mysuru’s KR Hospital. Doctors at the Piriyapatna hospital examined the injured and provided initial treatment. Several passengers suffered serious injuries to the spine, arms, legs, hips and other parts of the body, according to the report.
All passengers travelling on the bus were identified as being from Kerala. Rescue workers opened the bus’s emergency door to evacuate passengers after the force of the collision caused extensive damage. Those requiring advanced treatment were later shifted to KR Hospital and other hospitals in Mysuru after receiving first aid.
The driver’s body remained trapped inside the wrecked bus, with one leg caught in the vehicle. Rescue personnel carried out an extended operation to remove the body. The report did not identify the other three deceased people or provide a detailed breakdown of the injuries among the passengers.
The crash also disrupted traffic on the highway. Vehicles formed long queues along the road while the damaged bus and lorry remained at the site. A crane and JCB machinery were used to move both vehicles to the roadside, after which traffic was allowed to resume.
Mysuru Superintendent of Police Mallikarjun Baladandi visited the crash site and inspected the location. The available report did not provide details of the cause of the collision, the identities of the deceased or the next steps in any investigation.
