Ramanagara: Four people were killed and several others injured in a horrific road accident on the Bengaluru–Mysuru Expressway in Karnataka’s Ramanagara district during the early hours of Monday.

The accident occurred near Puttappanadoddi in Sankalagere village of Channapatna taluk when a private bus belonging to Kerala-based P K Travels, en route from Kerala to Bengaluru, lost control and crashed into the highway divider/fencing around 4:30 am.

According to police, the impact of the collision was severe, leaving parts of the bus badly mangled and several passengers injured. Two passengers died on the spot, while two others succumbed to their injuries later at the hospital.

The deceased have been identified as Mohammed Farhan (22) from Koyilandy in Kozhikode district of Kerala, Darshan (45), a resident of Kalasipalya in Bengaluru, Shakeer (27), a resident of Annepalya in Adugodi, Bengaluru, and Mahi (45) from Puducherry.

The bus driver initially claimed that the accident occurred while trying to avoid an oncoming vehicle. However, police investigations, including verification of CCTV footage from the stretch, suggest that the driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel, indicating negligence.

“The driver stated he swerved to avoid another vehicle, but CCTV footage indicates he likely dozed off while driving,” a senior traffic police officer said.

The Channapatna traffic police have arrested the driver and registered a case of negligent driving.
Meanwhile, two injured passengers—identified as Abdul and Alain from Kannur, Kerala—are undergoing treatment at a nearby hospital.

Police rushed to the spot soon after receiving information, carried out rescue operations, and cleared the damaged bus with the help of a crane to restore traffic movement on the expressway.
Further investigation into the incident is underway.