A loaded interstate lorry got stuck on roadside at Karmalghat missed fall into the gorge below early Monday morning. Captured by : Kathy Fernandes
CANACONA
A driver had a lucky escape when his goods-laden interstate truck narrowly missed falling into a gorge off the highway at Karmalghat early Monday morning. This is the fourth road mishap in Canacona within barely three days.
According to reports, the incident took place as the Karnataka-registered truck was reportedly proceeding to an industrial estate when it got stuck on soft mud while negotiating a sharp turn along the highway at Karmalghat.
“Due to heavy rains and an oncoming vehicle with bright headlights, I was blinded for some time and the front tyre got stuck on soft mud. I slammed the brakes and was lucky that the loaded truck stopped in time, else it would have fallen into the gorge,” said the lorry driver.
The driver said the narrow and single-lane road with many steep curves at Karmalghat is a treacherous route for motorists.
“We have many such ghats in Karnataka, but they are not as dangerous as the Karmalghat and a wider road is essential for the safety of motorists,” he added.
The vehicle remained at the site till Monday evening, while traffic was partially disrupted along that stretch of the highway.
This is the fourth road mishap within three days, after two Karnataka bound interstate trucks fell by the side of the highway barely metres apart in separate mishaps within five hours in Gulem-Canacona in the wee hours of Saturday.
On Sunday, a truck loaded with bananas skid off the road at Loliem and fell on its side while trying to avoid knocking down stray cattle on the road.
