Moodbidri: A car crashed into the barricade on the Beluvai flyover after the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle on the rain-soaked National Highway on Friday. The front portion of the car was extensively damaged in the impact, but the occupants escaped without serious injuries as the airbags deployed in time.
The accident also led to a temporary disruption in traffic after fuel leaked onto the road and mixed with rainwater.
Vehicle skids on rain-soaked road
According to eyewitnesses, the car was travelling along the flyover when it reportedly skidded on the wet road surface before crashing into the barricade.
The impact severely damaged the front section of the vehicle. However, the airbags opened immediately, protecting the occupants from serious injuries.
No casualties were reported in the incident.
Fuel spill disrupts traffic
Following the collision, fuel spilled from the damaged vehicle onto the carriageway.
The leaked fuel mixed with rainwater, creating slippery conditions and causing temporary disruption to vehicular movement on the busy National Highway.
Motorists slowed down as the damaged vehicle was cleared from the road, allowing traffic to return to normal.
Residents raise concerns over recurring accidents
The latest accident has once again raised concerns among local residents, who said it is the third accident reported at the same location on the Beluvai flyover within the past two weeks.
According to residents, the repeated mishaps indicate an underlying engineering issue rather than isolated incidents.
They alleged that rainwater regularly accumulates on the flyover because of inadequate drainage, making the road surface hazardous during the monsoon.
Poor drainage blamed for accidents
Residents claimed that the absence of an effective drainage system causes rainwater to stagnate on the flyover, creating what they described as an artificial depression in the middle of the carriageway.
They said motorists travelling at normal speeds often fail to notice the accumulated water until it is too late, resulting in vehicles skidding and drivers losing control.
Locals urged the National Highways authorities and other concerned agencies to rectify the technical shortcomings, improve the drainage system and ensure that rainwater does not collect on the flyover.
They expressed concern that unless corrective measures are taken, similar accidents may continue during the ongoing monsoon season.