Udupi: Lakshmi Manjunath Kolla (37), wife of former Udupi Municipal Council Vice-Chairman and BJP leader Manjunath Kolla, was killed after being hit by a speeding private bus near Lions Circle on Court Road in Udupi on Saturday afternoon.
The tragic accident has sent shockwaves across the district, with political leaders and residents expressing grief over her untimely demise.
Accident occurred while returning home
According to police, Lakshmi had attended a meeting at the BJP office in Kadiyali and later visited the office of the Udupi MLA at the Taluk Panchayat building.
After completing her engagements, she was walking home along Court Road near Lions Circle, close to Naivedya Hotel, when a speeding private bus allegedly hit her.
The impact of the collision left her with severe injuries.
Died on the spot
Lakshmi sustained critical injuries and succumbed to excessive bleeding at the scene before she could receive medical attention.
Police personnel from the Udupi Traffic Police Station rushed to the spot, conducted a preliminary inspection and shifted the body to a hospital for post-mortem examination.
A case has been registered, and further investigation is underway to ascertain the circumstances that led to the accident.
Fresh concerns over road safety
The incident has once again raised concerns over the safety of pedestrians on busy roads in Udupi and the need for stricter enforcement against reckless driving.
Police are investigating the role of the private bus driver and whether negligence contributed to the fatal accident.