Six members of a family were killed in a tragic road accident near Bangalore on Saturday, sparking a debate about the effectiveness of safer cars on unsafe roads. The family was traveling in a Volvo SUV when a container truck overturned, crushing the vehicle and none of them survived.
The accident took place near Nelamangala on National Highway 48 near Bengaluru.
A preliminary police investigation has pieced together the events that led to the tragic crash that claimed six lives. An Eicher truck loaded with aluminum pillars weighing several tonnes lost control while trying to avoid colliding with another vehicle on its way to Bengaluru.
The truck, which was traveling at high speed, crossed the median and rolled into a Volvo car which was heading towards Tumakuru. The impact was devastating, severely damaging the Volvo and resulting in a fatality. The truck also hit a tempo before stopping, but the tempo suffered only minor damage.
A nearby CCTV camera captured the horrifying moment when the truck crushed the Volvo. Police are analyzing the footage as part of their ongoing investigation into the incident.
Chandrayagappa Gole (48), his wife Gourabai (42) and their relatives Vijayalakshmi (36), John (16), Deeksha (12) and Arya (6) have died in this tragic accident. When the incident happened, the family was on their way to Vijayapura.
Chandram Yegapagol, CEO and Managing Director of IAST Software Solutions, is a well-known personality in the tech scene in Bengaluru. A resident of HSR layout, he was originally born in Morbagi village in Sangli district of Maharashtra.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Yegapagol has an impressive educational background, holding a Diploma in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from GPT Gulbarga and an Engineering degree in the same field from the prestigious National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK) Surathkal, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Eyewitnesses reported that Arif, the truck driver, lost control of the vehicle while trying to avoid a car that suddenly stopped in front of him. The truck then jumped the divider and collided with the Volvo SUV.
The family was on their way to Vijayapura when the tragedy happened. According to a police officer, the truck fell on top of the car, which was badly crushed and the bodies of the deceased were broken into pieces.
The accident has sparked a heated conversation on social media about road safety, with many users stressing that even the safest vehicles cannot prevent deaths if other drivers are reckless.
DriveSmart, a social media account dedicated to promoting road safety, has shared alarming photos of the scene where a Volvo SUV crashed into a container truck, killing six people.
The X handle issued a stern warning, “This picture is a reminder that road safety cannot be achieved by a safe car alone. Safe roads + safe driver + safe car –> all three are essential for safety (sic ).”
In response to the post, some users pointed out that although Volvo is known for producing safe vehicles, the car cannot withstand the massive force of a container truck loaded with aluminum.
Others, tagging road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari, urged the government to implement stricter rules to improve road safety, stressing the need for strong measures to prevent such catastrophic accidents in future.
In a recent debate on road safety in Parliament, Union Minister Gadkari admitted that the number of accidents has increased significantly. “Forget about reducing the number of accidents, I have no hesitation in admitting that it has increased. This is one area where our department has not achieved success,” Gadkari said during the winter session of Parliament.
He also expressed regret that despite the high number of deaths due to road accidents, there is no fear of the law. “Some don't wear helmets, some jump red lights,” he said during Question Time, describing the “strange” situation.
Pointing out that improper parking of trucks on roads contributes significantly to accidents, the Union Minister noted that many trucks fail to follow lane discipline.
Government data reveals that more than 1.78 lakh people lost their lives in road accidents in India last year, an average of 470 deaths per day. Majority of the victims are in the age group of 18-34 years.