Seven dead, two rescued when a three-wheeler carrying them plunged into Tungabhadra canal near Bellary. An obvious question that springs to mind is, how come there were so many travelling in that autorickshaw ? We don’t get an answer in this 12-para news report. In fact, the question remained unasked by the reporter, even in a subsequent report.
Notably, the media report refers to a gallant rescue of the two women struggling in water. A passer-by promptly removed his dhoti and held it out as the lifeline that saved the two women from drowning . Rescue workers later recovered five bodies, four of which from inside the submerged autorickshaw. It was so over-crowded that, perhaps, they couldn’t get out , and tragically went down with the sinking vehicle. Maybe overcrowding was a factor that caused the accident. Maybe the driver lost control of the vehicle that plunged into the canal. Passengers, all women, were farm workers. The driver was among the dead.
Filed under: auto-drivers, Farming, Karnataka, Media, Newspaper |
My Take by GVK 
Shocking. As far as I know, only three passengers are allowed in an auto. The police cannot avoid the responsibility for permitting overcrowding. Box 3-wheelers are meant to carry goods and not people.