Sullia: A woman lost her life on the spot and more than 20 passengers sustained injuries in a head-on collision between two KSRTC buses near Aranthodu on the Mani-Mysuru National Highway on Wednesday.
The accident occurred at a curve near Aranthodu in Sullia taluk, involving a KSRTC bus traveling from Mangaluru to Madikeri and another coming from Madikeri.
The deceased has been identified as Bharathi (50), a resident of Kushalnagar. She was returning to Madikeri after undergoing medical treatment in Mangaluru when the accident took place. She died on the spot due to severe injuries.
The injured include, Chaitra (22), Mayilpa (43), Shravyashri (24), Kumudini (24), Yamuna (55), Vedika (10), Yakshita (22), Samad (38), Muthamma (37), Chandravathi (43), Tirumaleshwar (49), Soni H.P. (21), Chidananda (42), Nayana Vitobarao (25), Subramani (51), Kaveramma (35), Abhilash (21), Jayant (17), Karan (37).
Several of the injured passengers have been admitted to a private hospital in Sullia, while some are being treated at the government hospital. Reports indicate that two of them are in critical condition.
A case in connection with the incident has been registered at Sullia police station.
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Belagavi: The Home Department has advised motorists to stay alert while travelling on national and state highways, warning that gangs involved in robbery and extortion have been active in several stretches. It said people should be extra cautious if anyone tries to stop their vehicle in isolated areas.
Replying to an unstarred question on Thursday, the department said Karnataka has recorded 403 highway robbery cases in the past three years. According to the data, national highways saw 81 extortion and 23 robbery cases in 2023, followed by 66 extortion and 16 robbery cases in 2024. Until November 15 this year, 51 extortion and 14 robbery cases have been reported.
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On state highways, 39 extortion and 17 robberies were reported in 2023, while 2024 saw 35 extortion and 22 robbery cases. In 2025 so far, 20 extortion and 19 robbery cases have taken place. The department noted that curbing highway robberies remains a major challenge for the police.
To tackle the issue, police stations have been directed to set up regular checkpoints on stretches of highways passing through their limits. Suspicious individuals and vehicles are being checked. Two-wheelers have been allocated to every station for night patrol, and staff have been instructed to conduct night rounds using vehicles fitted with sirens and red lights.
