Bhatkal: More than 20 passengers in a state transport bus were injured in a collision between the bus and a goods carrier near the Ternamakki Church in the taluk on Saturday morning.

The KSRTC Airavatha was travelling from Karwar to Mangaluru when it hit the goods tempo, which was going from Honnavar to Bhatkal, from behind, sources said.

Three passengers who had been seated in the front row of the bus were seriously injured in the accident and have been admitted to the Bhatkal government hospital.

More than 50 people were travelling in the bus but there was no casualty due to the accident. The front of the bus and the back of the goods carrier, however, greatly damaged, said the sources.

Murudeshwara Police have registered a case and are investigating.

On learning of the accident, Assistant Commissioner of Bhatkal Mamata Devi G S and Western Ghat conservation action force president Govinda Nayak visited the hospital and inquired about the condition of the injured passengers.

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.

Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.

"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.

"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country

"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.

"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.

Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.

"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.

"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.