Mangaluru: A motorist who suffered a tire burst while crossing the Nethravati Bridge on Saturday shared a video highlighting the dire condition of the highway. Two of the vehicle’s tires failed, causing other damage to the vehicle.
Motorists were stranded and faced inconvenience. They called a mechanic to repair the car before continuing.
Videos shared by motorists showed exposed iron bars on the bridge deck, while passengers were holding National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is responsible for accidents that occur due to poor maintenance.
NHAI swung into action after seeing the video complaint and sent maintenance teams who quickly repaired the potholes on the bridge on the Tokotu-Mangaluru stretch within hours of receiving the report.
The traveler shared the video on social media and explained that a large crater appeared on the Nethravati bridge in the Thokkotu – Mangaluru direction, with exposed iron rods on one of the bridge decks.
“Because there were iron rods protruding from the potholes, both tires of the car I was riding in were broken. Therefore, I advise friends who drive on the bridge to drive carefully. It is only because of God’s mercy that a major accident was avoided possible. This requires urgent solutions and relevant officials should act quickly.
Meanwhile, social activist Shashidhar Shetty said on the issue that while the bridge should be repaired, the authorities concerned also need to compensate the vehicle owners for their losses. He added: “The government has a responsibility to ensure that roads are well maintained to ensure the safety of drivers and vehicles.”
