Bengaluru: A case of rash and negligent driving has been registered against Omprakash who had bumped his bike into a big pothole on the Devarabeesanahalli flyover near Marathahalli on Thursday that had resulted in the death of his wife Stuthi Pandey who was riding pillion.
The woman had fallen from the bike and died on the spot. The Old Airport Traffic police have registered the case.
A senior police officer said: “A case of unnatural death was registered and also the deceased’s husband, Omprakash, who was riding the bike, was booked for rash and negligent driving. As of now, he is not taken into custody, as he has gone to complete the last rites of his wife at their home town.”
When asked about booking the road contractor and maintenance officials, he said: “The contractors and people maintaining the road can also be booked. Also, the department concerned can take action against them. For now, we will discuss it with the senior police officers and based on their decision, we will take the necessary action.”
Meanwhile, the civic agencies are indulging in blame game. While the Palike said that the BDA is responsible as the area comes under BDA limits, the BDA officials have attributed the accident to the rash and negligent driving.
“During rains, it is common that roads suffer and potholes are formed. Friday’s accident is due to rash driving of the deceased’s husband. Motorists drive recklessly and in a bid to reach their destinations soon, they do not follow traffic rules. Our officials have visited the spot and taken steps to repair the potholes,” said a senior BDA official.
Stuthi Pandey, 25, and her husband Omprakash, both software professionals in the City, were returning to their house in Banashankari 1st Stage after celebrating Ganesha Chaturthi at their friend’s house in Munnekolala.
Around 9:15 pm, as he was riding on the upper ramp of the flyover opposite Sakra World Hospital, Omprakash could not avoid a huge pothole. As he rode into it and the bike wobbled, Stuthi fell on one side and Omprakash on the other.
She suffered internal head injuries and was rushed to Sakra World Hospital. However, she had died by then due to brain haemorrhage. Omprakash suffered fracture and bruises, said the police.
According to BBMP sources, Mayor B N Manjunath Reddy has written a letter on Saturday to BDA commissioner T Sham Bhatt asking him to look into the issue of maintenance of underpass, roads and flyovers.
