On Saturday evening, November 9, a tragic accident on the Thokkottu-Mangaluru University road near the Ullal Press Club claimed the life of Rehmat (47). Rehmat, a resident of Deralakatte and wife of Rashid, who works at a private hospital, was riding on a scooter with her husband. In an attempt to avoid a large pothole, their scooter lost balance, leading both to fall onto the road. Tragically, a tanker following closely behind ran over Rehmat, killing her instantly.
The accident ignited fury among local residents, who attributed the tragedy to the road’s unsafe condition. They promptly blocked the Thokkottu-Konaje route with stones, halting traffic for nearly an hour. Vehicles formed long queues, with some drivers seeking alternate routes to bypass the jam. Tensions rose as protesters confronted Ullal police officers over the neglected road maintenance.
In addition to the fatal accident, delays in the 108 ambulance response further fueled the crowd’s frustration. The ambulance service, citing technical difficulties, failed to arrive promptly, leaving Rehmat’s body on the road for over 30 minutes. Local residents also criticized traffic authorities for prioritizing fine collection over road repairs.
Senior officials, including DCP Dinesh Kumar, ACP Najma Farooqui, ACP Dhanya Nayak, and Ullal station officer Balakrishna H N, intervened to defuse the situation.
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