Bus overturns near Mangalore, crushes 2 women

Alleged callous attitude of a private bus conductor towards passengers killed two women near Thokkuttu, about 7 km from Mangalore, on Sunday morning.

The deceased, Sushila Veigas, 40, and Molly D’Souza, 41, were to alight at Thokkuttu. The conductor allegedly forced them to stand on top of the footboard. The women were flung out of the bus when the vehicle overturned.

The police, however, have not booked the conductor, whose identity was not immediately known.

The two church-going women were crushed to death instantly under the bus. Five other passengers, who suffered grievous injuries, were hospitalised in Mangalore.

The women were made to stand on top of the footboard, so that the bus could save a few seconds.

Passengers, who escaped the accident with minor injuries, said the speeding bus was driven rashly. The bus veered out of control when the driver tried to avoid a pothole on National Highway 17.
A Tata Sumo, caught under the bus, was damaged.

The police slapped sections 279, 338, 337 and 304 (a) of the Indian Penal Code (all relating to rash and negligent driving) on the bus driver.