Trench dug for pipeline on road claims helmetless pillion rider's life

Bengaluru, Jun 7: Shoddy work by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) in filling trenches dug for a pipeline project on Kammanahalli Main Road claimed the life of a woman on Monday.

The victim, Jolly Abraham (45), was a preschool teacher and was being dropped to work by her husband on a bike as usual when the front wheel got stuck in a trench which was not filled properly. Jolly fell and sustained fatal injuries to her head.

The victim, however, was not wearing a helmet. As per rules, the police booked the rider, Jolly's husband Abraham–an ex-serviceman–for causing his wife's death due to rash and negligent driving.?The police said that Abraham will be arrested soon.

The BWSSB engineer and contractor who executed the project have been mentioned as accused number 2 and 3, respectively.

Cases will be registered against them and they will also be arrested, the police added.But the locals held BWSSB responsible for Jolly's death, saying that accidents were a regular feature on the road as the civic agency left the road in a sorry state and did nothing to ensure safety.

The BWSSB undertook a project to lay a pipeline on the Kammanahalli main road about a month ago. The workers dug up the road, but did not cover the trenches properly once work was finished.

They used mud to fill the trenches, but most of it was washed away in the rain that lashed the city last week, said the police. Abraham would drop his wife to work everyday. And on Monday, he rode over once such trench which seemed to be covered properly.

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Mangaluru’s public transport revolution: 100 new govt electric buses to end private ‘trip-cutting’

News Network

December 19,2025

Mangaluru: Public transport in Mangaluru is set for a state-led transformation as the government moves to deploy 100 new electric govt buses to replace unreliable private services. The initiative aims to provide a dependable alternative to private operators who have been frequently "cutting trips," leaving thousands of commuters stranded.

The announcement was made by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV during a public phone-in session. The move specifically targets routes where private bus service has become erratic, ensuring that citizens no longer have to rely on a fluctuating private sector for their daily commute.

Restoring the Govt Presence

The transport crisis was brought to the forefront by Ramayya, a resident of Bajal, who highlighted a growing trend of private buses skipping morning and night trips. With the previous KSRTC (govt) services discontinued, residents have been left without a fallback option.

To fix this, the DC confirmed that the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme will bring 100 government-owned electric buses to the city:

• Phased Deployment: The first 50 of the new 100 government buses are scheduled to arrive by March 2026.

• State Infrastructure: Two new government depots, including one at Mudipu, are being prepared for operations.

• Recruitment: The state has already begun training a new batch of government bus drivers to ensure the fleet is operational the moment it arrives.

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