Five people were injured in the early hours of Friday when a private sleeper bus operated by Tranz India Travels crashed into a toll booth at Kannamangala on the Airport Expressway near Devanahalli. Authorities said the injured — including the bus driver — were taken to hospital and are reported to be out of danger.
Devanahalli toll booth crash raises safety concerns
The Madhya Pradesh-registered coach was en route from Hyderabad to Mysuru when the driver failed to negotiate the second toll plaza on the Devanahalli stretch, colliding with the booth at Kannamangala. Officials said the front and right side of the vehicle sustained significant damage.
A senior traffic official told reporters that the driver was speeding and may have been drowsy at the wheel. Those injured have been identified as Pradeep, 25, of Mysuru; Akanksha, 23; Narasimha Rao, 50, of Telangana; Harshita, 25, of Hassan; and the driver, Irfan Ali, 28, of Bengaluru.
Emergency services attended the scene and moved the injured to nearby hospitals. Medical staff later confirmed that none of the injuries were life threatening and all five were in stable condition.
Investigation and calls for action
Police have launched an inquiry into the circumstances of the crash, focusing on speed, driver fatigue and any mechanical issues. Investigators will review available CCTV footage from the expressway and interview witnesses and company representatives to establish the sequence of events.
Local residents have renewed demands for the removal of the Kannamangala toll booth, which they say has not been operational for at least two years. Villagers and commuters argue that the presence of an unused toll structure on a busy approach road creates a hazard, particularly at night when visibility is lower.
“The booth has been redundant for some time and has become a danger rather than a facility,” a resident said. Authorities have acknowledged the complaint and indicated that the toll operator and road agency will be asked to review the status of the structure as part of the post-incident assessment.
Road safety groups pointed to the incident as an example of the risks posed by driver fatigue on long-distance services. They urged bus operators to ensure adequate rest periods for drivers and to enforce speed limits strictly. The state transport department said it would remind operators of existing regulations and consider spot checks on intercity coaches.
The bus operator, Tranz India Travels, has been contacted for comment. Officials at the company said they were cooperating with the police enquiry and would provide details about the driver’s schedule and vehicle maintenance records.
As the investigation continues, traffic officials emphasised that steps to remove hazards, improve signage and enforce speed limits remain key to preventing similar incidents. For now, the focus is on the recovery of those injured and establishing how the collision occurred so that appropriate safety measures can be taken.
Key Takeaways:
- Five people injured when a Tranz India sleeper bus collided with the unused Kannamangala toll booth on the Devanahalli stretch.
- Authorities suspect speeding and possible driver drowsiness in the Devanahalli toll booth crash.
- Local residents demand removal of the disused toll booth, citing it as a safety hazard.
- Injured passengers have been reported out of danger while investigations continue.
