Ooty: Tamil Nadu and Karnataka state owned buses collided on the Ooty-Mysuru national highway amid the forests in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR). Nearly 20 passengers were injured in the accident on Tuesday morning. Greens now demand speed control measures on this wildlife rich road.
After nearly seven years, there has been a major accident on the MTR stretch of the Ooty-Mysuru NH on the Nilgiris border.
While a Karnataka transport corporation bus was heading towards Mysuru along the
Ooty-Mysuru NH that traverses via MTR between Thorappalai near Gudalur and Kakkanallah near Bandipur on the Karnataka-Nilgiris border, a Tnstc bus was heading towards Gudalur from nearby Bokkapuram hamlet in the MTR buffer zone. The two buses collided near Thorappalli limits on the MTR stretch.
As many as 20 passengers who sustained injuries were rushed to the government hospital at Gudalur. While police are investigating, sources said that the Tnstc bus over-speeding probably led to the mishap.
Meanwhile, V. Sivadass, managing trustee of the Nilgiris Environment and socio-cultural Trust, wanted transport corporation officials in both states to counsel drivers operating in the wooded MTR stretch of the Ooty-Mysuru NH to adhere to speed control. “Many wild animals try to either cross this road or move along the roadside on this stretch. Though there are quite a few speed-breakers, it is better if more speed-breakers are erected as this will save both human and animal lives,” he suggested.
