Biker killed in lorry collision near Murdeshwar; Residents protest over NH-66 safety

Bhatkal: A 55-year-old motorcyclist was killed after a lorry allegedly rammed into his bike from behind at Basti Junction near Murdeshwar on National Highway 66 on Wednesday afternoon, triggering a protest by local residents who blamed the highway's design for repeated accidents.

The deceased has been identified as Krishna Shaniyar Naik (55), a resident of Sabbathi near Murdeshwar.

According to police, Krishna was travelling from Bhatkal towards Murdeshwar on his motorcycle. When he stopped at Basti Junction to cross the highway, a speeding lorry approaching from behind allegedly crashed into his bike.

The impact threw him onto the road, where he reportedly came under the wheels of the lorry and died on the spot.

Soon after the accident, hundreds of local residents gathered at the site and staged a protest, alleging that the unscientific design of the four-lane National Highway 66 project has made Basti Junction highly accident-prone.

The protesters refused to allow authorities to remove the victim's body or the damaged motorcycle trapped beneath the lorry. They demanded that senior officials of IRB Infrastructure, the agency executing the highway project, visit the spot and provide a concrete assurance that permanent safety measures would be implemented to prevent similar accidents in future.

Police personnel from Murdeshwar and Bhatkal stations rushed to the scene to maintain law and order. Deputy Superintendent of Police, the Assistant Commissioner, the Tahsildar and officials from other departments also reached the spot and held discussions with the protesters.

An engineer representing IRB Infrastructure later arrived at the location and interacted with the agitating residents.

Murdeshwar Police have registered a case in this regard.