Bhatkal: More than 20 passengers were injured when a KSRTC bus hit a passenger tempo from rear. The accident happened at Teranamakki NH66, near church coming under Murdeshwar police station limits in Bhatkal taluk on Saturday morning.

The volvo bus was heading towards Mangalore from Karwar, while the tempo was on its way to Bhatkal from Honnavar. It is reported that the bus was overtaking the tempo, while the tempo suddenly stopped to alight the passengers, due to which the bus crashed with the tempo from rear end.

All the injured have been admitted to Bhatkal Government Hospital.

It is reported that the passenger ferry Tempo which was heading from Honnavar, carrying mostly school teachers who were on their way to attend a program organized at Chitrapur in Shirali village. Meanwhile, a Mangalore-bound Volvo bus while plying from Karwar hit the tempo from behind. All the passengers in the bus escaped unhurt, but the passengers in the tempo sustained injuries.

Five injured have been advised to go to Kundapur or Mangalore Hospital for further treatment after providing first aid at Bhatkal Government Hospital. Other injured have been treated at Bhatkal govt hospital.

The injured have been identified as Vasanthi (43), Chandu Gowda (42), Lalita (52), Vanadana (19), Suchitra (39), Anita (42), Bhagvathi (48), Veena Kamath (52), Kusuma (34), Zubaida (40),  Manjunath (34), Noorunnisa Manki (60), Lata (28), Kavita (24), Bhumika Manki (16), Ambika (36), Ashrafunnisa (45) and Lakshmi (40). According to doctor, five passengers Vandana, Zubaida, Lata, Kavita and Ashrafunnisa suffered with head injuries and have been advised to shift to Kundapur or Mangalore hospitals for further treatment

The impact of the collision was such that the front part of the bus and rear portion of the tempo were severely damaged.

Murdeshwar police rushed to the spot and after shifting the injured to the hospital, the road was cleared for the traffic movement. 

A case has been registered at Murdeshwar police station.