Bhatkal: Banyan tree pierces bus; conductor killed in freak accident

Bhatkal 16 November 2018: (Bhatkallys News Bureau) A KSRTC Volvo's conductor on Thursday night died on the spot in a horrific road mishap which saw him being stabbed by a branch of a tree which pierced through the bus, while it was on its way to the depot here at Sagar road in Bhatkal. The deceased has been identified as Panchaiah Matapati (35), a resident of Belgaum, who was employed with KSRTC as a ticket conductor in one of its Volvo bus service. According to the source, the Volvo on which he was working used ply between Bhatkal-Mangaluru, on Thursday night when the bus returned from Mangaluru, it was on its way to depot when a branch of banyan tree pierced into the bus from the top and stabbed into the chest of Panchaiah, who was sitting on the front seat reserved for the conductor. The impact of the accident left Panchaiah succumb to his injuries on the spot, while the driver managed a narrow escape as he was saved by a gap of few inches. The deceased was later taken to Taluka Government Hospital Bhatkal for post mortem. A case has been registered at Bhatkal rural police station. (Bhatkallys News Bureau)