KSRTC issues press statement following tragic Talapady accident, says brakes did not fail
Mangaluru: A tragic accident involving a KSRTC bus on the Kasaragod–Mangaluru route claimed the lives of six people, including two passengers who were travelling in an autorickshaw, on Thursday afternoon near Talapady toll gate.
According to officials, the bus (registration number KA19F3407) belonging to the Mangaluru first Division was being driven by Nijaligappa Chalavadi, a senior driver with 14 years of service. The vehicle, deployed on Route No. 129/130 (Kasaragod–Mangaluru), had left Kasaragod around 12:30 pm and reached Talapady toll by 1:45 pm when the accident occurred.
Preliminary reports state that as the bus approached 150 metres before the toll, an autorickshaw suddenly entered the road. In an attempt to avoid a direct collision, the driver applied brakes, but the bus hit the auto. The impact caused the bus to go out of control, moving backwards on a slope before crashing into another autorickshaw and passengers waiting for buses by the roadside.
Two passengers inside the autorickshaw died on the spot. Four others, including the autorickshaw driver, sustained grievous injuries and were rushed to the hospital. However, despite treatment, all four later succumbed. Two more injured passengers, hit by the reversing bus, are currently undergoing treatment.
Officials confirmed that the bus had only recently been cleared in its fitness certificate (FC) renewal on August 26, ruling out any technical fault. The vehicle had completed 540 km in 10 trips since it was pressed into service on August 27.
Authorities have attributed the accident to the driver’s overspeeding and negligence. The corporation has assured that medical expenses of the injured will be borne by KSRTC.
Expressing sorrow over the incident, KSRTC Managing Director Akram Pasha said, “Despite regular training and awareness programmes for drivers, such accidents are unfortunate. We pray for peace to the departed souls and strength to the families. Strict action will be taken against the driver found guilty.”
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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
