A 22-year-old college student lost her life in a shocking accident near Budigere Cross in Bengaluru on Monday. She lost control of her two-wheeler after hitting a pothole and was thrown in front of a speeding tipper lorry.
The victim has been identified as Dhanushree, a second-year B.Com student at a private college. She was on her way to class when she swerved to avoid a pothole and fell onto the road. A tipper lorry coming from behind ran over her, killing her instantly. The driver fled the scene without stopping.
Eyewitnesses told IANS that the impact was so severe that the student’s head was crushed under the wheels. The accident has sparked anger and protests among local residents, who blame the poor condition of the Budigere Cross stretch, notorious for potholes, loose soil, and gravel that pose daily risks for commuters.
Police from K.R. Puram traffic station and Avalahalli crime station rushed to the spot. A hit-and-run case has been registered and efforts are underway to trace the lorry driver. The body has been sent to a private hospital.
The tragedy has reignited the debate on Bengaluru’s crumbling road infrastructure. IT industry leaders have repeatedly flagged the pothole menace, while residents accuse the government of negligence.
Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who also holds the Bengaluru Development portfolio, had earlier courted controversy by remarking that IT companies cannot “blackmail” the government over poor road conditions. He later softened his stand, saying he would meet industry representatives and assured them of action.