Three people died in separate road accidents, reported just hours from each other, as Bengaluru began its week on a sad note on Sunday. A 25-year-old software professional, a 41-year-old security guard of a hospital, and her 19-year-old son are among the victims. The accidents that occurred at Mahadevapura and Mysuru Road have once again underscored the dangers of speed, rash overtaking, and increasing two-wheeler vulnerability on the city’s busy and often chaotically packed roads.
The first accident occurred around 2 am near Hosa Road Junction in Mahadevapura. Two young software engineers, Redhar Garg from Maharashtra and Ankush Mishra from Chhattisgarh, were returning to their residence in Channasandra after dinner at a nearby restaurant. Garg was riding a Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycle, with Mishra riding pillion. While riding along a dimly lit stretch, the bike crashed forcefully against a road median and threw both riders onto the road.
Passers-by quickly called up the emergency services, and the two were rushed to a nearby hospital. Mishra, unfortunately, succumbed to severe head injuries before the arrival of the doctors. Garg survived and is undergoing treatment presently. According to the police officials, overspeeding could be one of the major factors; they are scanning the CCTV footage installed in the area to understand the exact cause of the collision. The officers noted that several medians in the area lack clear reflective markings, making them hard to spot at night.
Within a few hours, another fatal accident occurred on Mysuru Road near Byatarayanapura. A 41-year-old woman and her 19-year-old son died when the two-wheeler they were on collided with a canter truck around 7:40 am. The deceased are Ashwini, a security guard employed with a private hospital in Chamarajpet, and her son, Abhilash, a first-year commerce student.
According to investigators, Abhilash was riding the scooter and trying to pass between the canter and another four-wheeler during slow-moving traffic. In this process, the scooter touched the side of the canter, causing it to lose balance. The mother and son were thrown onto the road, and sustained critical injuries. Though commuters rushed them to the hospital immediately, they could not be saved. Police have arrested the truck driver for rash and negligent driving and are examining eyewitness accounts to establish the sequence of events.
Both incidents reflect recurring challenges on the Bengaluru roads: speeding, lane indiscipline, tight traffic pockets, and the inherent risks faced by two-wheeler riders. The danger of squeezing between heavy vehicles, particularly on congested stretches such as Mysuru Road, has long been highlighted by traffic experts. Similarly, ill-marked medians at key junctions are also a serious threat to night-time commuters.
These tragedies come at a time when the city has been witnessing a steady rise in road accidents. Despite multiple awareness campaigns, enforcement drives, and improvements in road engineering, Bengaluru continues to grapple with unsafe driving behaviour and outdated road layouts.
The losses are incalculable for the families: a bright young engineer who came to Bengaluru to carve an enviable career died within months; in the Mysuru Road accident, a household was deprived of its breadwinning mother and a son who had just joined college. According to local residents, the accidents underscore the pressing need to take several road safety measures—stricter enforcement of the helmet rule, clearer lane markings, better lighting, and stronger action against rash driving. Police authorities have urged motorists, particularly young riders, to avoid speeding, not to attempt narrow overtakes, and to put on safety gear properly. Investigations into both accidents are continuing.
