Beltangady: Four persons, including Special Investigation Team (SIT) superintendent of police C A Simon, sustained injuries after the vehicle carrying them overturned on the winding Charmadi Ghat road on Tuesday while they were travelling in connection with the ongoing investigation into the alleged burial case in Dharmasthala.

The accident occurred when the team was travelling from the SIT office in Beltangady to Chikkamagaluru for discussions related to the progress of the high-profile investigation. All four occupants escaped with minor injuries and are reported to be out of danger.

Mishap occurs at sharp bend on ghat stretch

According to sources, the Toyota Innova carrying the SIT officers was proceeding along the Charmadi Ghat road when the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a sharp curve.

The vehicle is said to have skidded and overturned on the road, resulting in a dramatic accident on the busy ghat section. The impact caused the vehicle to turn turtle, trapping the occupants inside the damaged vehicle.

Charmadi Ghat is known for its steep gradients, winding roads and sharp bends, requiring motorists to exercise extra caution while travelling through the stretch, particularly during adverse weather conditions and heavy traffic.

Team was travelling for investigation-related meeting

Sources said the officers were on their way to Chikkamagaluru as part of the ongoing probe into the controversial alleged burial case in Dharmasthala.

The investigators were reportedly scheduled to meet Chikkamagaluru district superintendent of police and SIT investigating officer Jitendra Kumar Dayama to review developments in the case and discuss the next phase of the investigation.

The meeting was intended to assess the progress made so far and determine future investigative steps in the sensitive case that has attracted considerable public attention.

Four occupants sustain injuries

Among those injured in the accident were SIT superintendent of police C A Simon, inspector Kusumadhar, police constable Manjunath and the driver of the vehicle.

The force of the overturn left all four occupants injured, though preliminary reports indicate that none suffered life-threatening injuries. Witnesses at the scene stated that the accident caused panic among motorists travelling along the route.

Despite the severity of the crash, the occupants were fortunate to escape with minor injuries, avoiding what could have been a much more serious incident.

Locals and motorists assist in rescue

Immediately after the accident, local residents and passing motorists rushed to the spot and joined rescue efforts.

Witnesses said members of the public acted swiftly to help the trapped occupants. Working together, they managed to pull the injured officers from the overturned vehicle before emergency assistance arrived.

The prompt response by local residents and road users played a crucial role in ensuring that the injured received timely medical attention.

The injured officers were subsequently shifted to a nearby hospital, where they underwent treatment. Medical sources indicated that all four were stable and recovering from their injuries.

Police restore traffic movement

Following the incident, police personnel from the local jurisdiction visited the accident site and conducted an inspection.

Authorities took steps to clear the damaged vehicle from the roadway and regulate traffic movement along the busy ghat stretch. Their efforts ensured that vehicular movement was restored without major disruption despite the accident occurring on a narrow and challenging section of the road.

Officials are expected to examine the circumstances that led to the mishap, including road conditions and the factors that may have contributed to the driver losing control of the vehicle.

Investigation continues despite accident

The accident temporarily interrupted the SIT team’s journey but is not expected to affect the ongoing investigation into the alleged burial case.

Officials indicated that the injured officers are recovering and that investigative activities related to the case will continue as planned. The incident, however, underscores the risks faced by law enforcement personnel while travelling across difficult terrain during the course of official duties.

Conclusion

The overturning of an SIT vehicle on the Charmadi Ghat road left four persons, including SP C A Simon, injured while they were travelling in connection with the Dharmasthala alleged burial case investigation. Thanks to the swift response of local residents and motorists, the injured officers were rescued promptly and are reported to be out of danger.