Tanker lorry mows down pillion rider in Mangaluru; protests erupt against poor road condition

Mangaluru: A pillion rider died after a tanker lorry ran over her at Chembugudde near Thokkottu in Ullal police station limits in Mangaluru on Saturday.

According to the police, the deceased is Rahmat H Rashid (47). Abdul Rashid G was riding a scooter and was travelling from Yenepoya Hospital towards Bajpe Airport. When they reached Chembugudde, the scooter skidded. As a result, Rahmat H Rashid fell onto the road. A tanker lorry coming from behind, ran over Rahmat and she suffered serious injuries. Though she was rushed to hospital, doctors who examined declared her dead.

Following the death of the pillion rider due to the poor condition of the road stretch at Chembugudde near Thokkottu, DYFI Ullal taluk committee staged a protest on Saturday night.

Committee president Nithin Kuthar said MLA and Legislative Assembly Speaker UT Khader, who claims the road as toll-free but fails to provide essential infrastructure, leading to fatal accidents. He questioned the development efforts, calling it inadequate. He warned that if the road is not repaired within a week, they would march to the MLA’s office with black flags.

Former DYFI State President Sunil Kumar Bajal flayed the deterioration of Thokkottu market. He said people are struggling to cross roads that have become dangerous, filled with deadly potholes.

Following the protest, temporary measures have been taken to repair the stretch of the road at Chembugudde on Sunday.