JOIN USA 35-year-old woman, who had suffered more than 80% burns when a KSRTC bus caught fire near Arishinakunte, about 30 km north of Bengaluru, died at Victoria Hospital on Friday.
Mamatha, a native of Veerapura in Hassan district, and her five-year-old son, Yashus, had boarded the ill-fated bus at Bellur Cross. The bus had originated in Sringeri and was scheduled to reach Bengaluru by 12.30 am on February 21. But it went up in flames near Arishinakunte around 12.20 am. While a 55-year-old woman passenger, Bhagyamma, perished in the accident, Mamatha was pulled out in the nick of time. Still, she suffered more than 80% burns and the chances of her survival were bleak.
Aware of her impending death, Mamatha’s final wish was to meet her estranged husband, Suresh. When her family contacted him, he was unaware that she was hospitalised. He went to Victoria Hospital and met her. While he was talking to her, she breathed her last.
Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy announced Rs 5 lakh compensation and Rs 15,000 was given for funeral expenses. The KSRTC arranged a vehicle to take the body to her native place.