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Udupi, Feb 8: In an accident resulting out of reported negligent driving, an express bus crashed into a mini bus at Udyavar national highway here on Sunday February 8, causing the death of one person and injuries to 10 others.

The deceased has been identified as Santosh Nandalike (27), an electrician by profession.

A group of about 25 persons from Belman were on a trip to Kemmannu when the accident took place.

It is said that at Udyavar, on the highway, an express bus plying from Mangaluru to Udupi overtook the mini bus, and in a bid to give competition to the bus, the mini bus driver reportedly stepped up the speed and overtook the bus. The express bus driver in response increased his speed, and while trying to overtake the mini bus again, it hit the latter from behind.

The impact was such that the mini bus turned over and Santosh who was in it was killed instantly.

Ten others who were in the mini bus sustained injuries, out of whom three are said to be serious. Some of the injured have been identified as Rajesh, Karunakar, Rajesh, Prakash and Prabhakar who was driving the mini bus.

It is alleged that though the government hospital is just a kilometre away from the spot of the accident, and has three 108 ambulances, none of them arrived in spite of being informed. The injured were taken to hospital by police vehicles and private cars by locals.

Some of the injured have been admitted to Adarsh hospital.

The traffic on the highway was affected for sometime. Circle inspector Srikanth, PSI Madhu, traffic SI and others came to the spot and cleared the traffic. The locals too helped the police in shifting the injured to hospital.