Kasaragod/Mangaluru, Aug 28 (PTI) Six people, including four from a family, were killed and seven others injured when a KSRTC bus bound for Mangaluru from Kasaragod suffered brake failure and crashed into a bus shelter and two auto-rickshaws at Talapady on the Karnataka - Kerala border on Thursday, police said.
The spot of the accident is located in Kasaragod district of Kerala, police said.
It also said that an FIR under sections 281 (rash driving), 125(a) (act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 106(1) (causing death by negligence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita has been registered by the Manjeswar police against the driver of the Karnataka state transport bus.
Five adults and a minor girl were killed, and the four adults belonged to a family. The accident occurred at around 1.15 pm on the National Highway-66, police added.
It also said that the inquest proceedings were currently going on so that the bodies of those killed in the accident could be handed over to the families.
The injured are currently receiving treatment at a local hospital. A preliminary investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the brake failure, they further stated.
According to a press release from Akram Pasha, Managing Director of the KSRTC, the bus (KA-19-F-3407) on route 129/130 (Kasaragod–Mangaluru) was driven by Driver Nijalingappa Chalavadi, who allegedly drove at high speed and parked the bus on a slope, and hurriedly got out of the bus, which moved backwards and caused the accident.
KSRTC clarified the bus had valid fitness, ruled out a technical fault, and blamed reckless driving. The corporation expressed condolences for the deceased and assured that the medical expenses of the injured would be borne by it.
The bus is being examined by KSRTC and traffic authorities to assess mechanical defects and maintenance practices.