A 32-year-old woman from Kerala was killed after falling from a motorcycle and being run over by a goods vehicle in Hebbagodi near Bengaluru on Wednesday. The victim, identified as Medha, was travelling as a pillion rider with a friend when the accident occurred. She worked at a provident fund office in Bengaluru.
According to preliminary information, the motorcycle lost control after a car travelling ahead suddenly braked, with the condition of the road reportedly contributing to the incident. Medha was thrown onto the road after the two-wheeler lost balance. A goods vehicle travelling behind the motorcycle then ran over her, killing her at the spot.
The accident triggered protests from local residents, who blamed potholes and the poor condition of roads in the area. Residents staged a road blockade and demanded immediate repairs, alleging that stretches around Electronic City and Ananthnagar have become dangerous for motorists because of damaged roads and recurring potholes.
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Locals also alleged that roads in the area are frequently dug up for various works but are not properly restored afterward. “Every now and then they dig up the road here and don't repair it,” a resident told NDTV. Residents demanded that authorities take immediate steps to improve road conditions and prevent further accidents.
Karnataka Minister Santosh Lad expressed condolences over Medha’s death while responding to concerns about the condition of the roads. He acknowledged that there could have been a pothole at the location but argued that the presence of a pothole should not be taken as evidence that the entire road infrastructure was poor.
Lad said the government had spent substantial amounts on infrastructure and provided the necessary justification for such expenditure each year. Meanwhile, the circumstances surrounding the accident and the condition of the road at the spot remain under attention following the protests. Local residents continue to seek repairs to the affected stretches around Hebbagodi, Electronic City and Ananthnagar.
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