MAPUSA
In an attempt to hoodwink each other to grab maximum passengers, two bus drivers put the lives of their passengers at a risk along the highway at Colvale on Sunday morning.
Eight passengers were injured after a Pernem to Mapusa bus went off the road while trying to overtake another bus near the Housing Board bus stop, Colvale, Mapusa Police said.
According to an eyewitness, the ill-fated bus halted behind another bus near Colvale, Housing Board bus stop to collect passengers at around 10.50 am.
Since the earlier bus had already collected the passengers from the spot, the driver of the ill-fated second bus quickly disembarked its passengers and made a dash to overtake the bus ahead.
Noticing the second bus driver’s intention, the first one took off and in doing so almost came in the middle of the road to prevent the second driver overtaking him.
In the process, the driver of the ill-fated bus got nervous, lost control and went off the main road, almost 100 metres across the road into a private property.
Luckily, the bus did not overturn, as it went into a lane in between two compound walls in the private property.
The injured passengers suffered cuts and bruises and were rushed to the North Goa District Hospital, Mapusa.
One of the passengers, Ganesh Patel, was admitted at the hospital while others were discharged after first aid.
The injured persons are Tejashree Naik (24) of Dhargal, Deepak Mestree (32) Satarda, Sandeep Pawar (37) Mumbai, Trupti Pawar (36) Mumbai, Krutika Pawar (11) Mumbai, Sudaji Madiwalkar (38) Belgaum, Ramchibila Rajbar (45) Bihar and Ganesh Patel (20) Korgao,
An offence has been registered against the driver, Satish Chodankar (44) of Tar-vaddo Colvale.
Mapusa Police is investigating the case.
