Bengaluru: Electric BMTC bus runs over two-wheeler on Old Airport Road, two killed

One victim died on the spot, while the other succumbed to injuries soon after in Bengaluru.

In a tragic accident on Old Airport Road in eastern Bengaluru, an electric BMTC bus crashed into a two-wheeler, killing two people on Wednesday night.

The accident took place around 10 pm near the ISRO UR Rao Satellite Centre.(X/@darshan221b)

According to a report by Deccan Herald, the accident took place around 10 pm near the ISRO UR Rao Satellite Centre. The victims have been identified as a Rapido driver and his pillion rider.

Jeevan Bima Nagar traffic police confirmed that the rider was Tapas (33), a native of West Bengal, while the pillion rider’s identity is yet to be determined. One of them died on the spot, while the other succumbed to injuries shortly after.

"The rider’s phone and other items were also crushed due to the crash. We could identify him based on his Aadhaar card," a police officer told Deccan Herald.

Following the accident, the bus driver and conductor fled the scene. By Thursday morning, authorities had tracked down the driver, but the conductor remains absconding.

Passersby helped police retrieve the bodies from under the bus, and traffic movement on the busy Old Airport Road was disrupted for a while.

Commuters voice concerns over reckless driving

The accident has sparked discussions on social media, with many users raising concerns over BMTC’s electric buses and their drivers' handling of the powerful vehicles.

"Yes, again an electric bus… Somehow I think these BMTC guys don’t know how to handle this powerful machine. Some time back, one of these almost crashed into my car at a traffic light," wrote one user.

Another user claimed that BMTC EV bus drivers drive recklessly, echoing similar experiences.

Sharing a personal encounter, one commuter said, “Took an electric bus once for just three stops. Trust me, the driver was so rash, cruising like a speeding car on ORR. I was scared to stand inside and had to hold on tight so I wouldn’t fall.”