Chris Gayle takes Mangaluru by storm

BP Dinesh Kumar, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime and Traffic), announced that fines and penalties for traffic violations will soon increase. The goal is to make Mangaluru's roads accident-free.

Despite having a private bus system for 80 years, the number of vehicles in Mangaluru has doubled, but the roads have not expanded. Many bus drivers frequently break the rules, making workshops for drivers essential, according to the DCP. He noted that even with fines, violations continue, and bus conductors often lack patience.

The DCP spoke at a workshop for bus conductors and drivers organized by the Dakshina Kannada Bus Owners Association and the Canara Bus Owners Association, in collaboration with St. Aloysius (Deemed to be University). The workshop aimed to improve relationships among bus personnel, the public, and students.

New criminal laws—Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam—will take effect from July 1, replacing the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and increasing penalties for violations. Offenses like racing, drunken driving, using a mobile phone while driving, overtaking, and traffic signal violations could lead to license cancellations. Bus conductors who fail to issue tickets lose passengers' trust. Despite campaigns against using shrill horns, complaints continue about their use on long-distance buses. The DCP emphasized the importance of following traffic rules and maintaining discipline.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Najma Farooqi highlighted the need to revise bus timings and prioritize this task. Mangaluru currently has 386 city buses and 566 service buses. Recent efforts have led to the removal of 236 shrill horns and legal action against violators, but complaints persist. The use of computerized ticket machines is mandatory, and conductors must treat passengers, especially women, with respect. Installing doors on buses is also crucial for safety.

RTO Sridhar Malnad stated that around 2,000 buses, including KSRTC-operated ones, serve approximately 200,000 passengers daily. Ensuring passenger safety is a key responsibility of bus drivers. To enhance safety, 15 transport department officials review video recordings from cameras installed on buses. Plans include integrating CCTV tracking devices. The department offers weekly training sessions for 20 staff members at its training center in Mudipu.

Bengaluru: Mines and Geology Minister S S Mallikarjun on Monday did not rule out a Cabinet reshuffle after the election results. 

"You should ask the chief minister. But one can't say... it (reshuffle) might happen," Mallikarjun told reporters when asked about speculation that some ministers may be dropped. 

Mallikarjun said this a week after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said there was no plan to reshuffle his Cabinet. 

There is speculation over a Cabinet rejig and that the Congress high command would hold ministers accountable if the party does badly in the Lok Sabha polls. 

In a tragic road accident, six members of a family died on the spot after their car jumped the median and hit a truck coming from the opposite direction in Eechanahalli village near Hassan town on Sunday.

The incident took place around 5.45 am on Sunday when the family was returning from Mangaluru. The deceased have been identified as Sunand, 40, Narayanaswamy, 50, Nethra, 25, Ravi Kumar, 30, Chethan, 7, and Gunashekar, 28. All of the deceased were residents of Devanahalli, Bengaluru Rural district.

According to police sources, the family had hired a Toyota Etios car and had visited Mangaluru for medical purposes. Gunashekar was driving the car.

A cop said, “We suspect Gunashekar’s drowsiness may have led to the accident. The car hit the road median and jumped to the other lane. It crashed into a container truck coming from the opposite direction. Going by the impact of the accident, it seems that the car was being driven at a high speed.”

The bodies were shifted to Hassan Institute Of Medical Sciences (HIMS). The Hassan traffic police have registered a case under Sections 279 (driving in a negligent manner endangering human life) and 304 (a) (death of any person by doing any rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide) of the Indian Penal Code.
 
Additional Director General of Police (Traffic and Road Safety) Alok Kumar posted on X, “In last 24 hrs 51 lives lost in road accidents in Karnataka, one of the highest toll in recent past. Many of these caused due to rash & reckless driving. Road safety needs responsible behaviour from all the stakeholders.”