Mangalore Police to Investigate Scooterist’s Accident at Panambur on NH 66: Who is Responsible?

City Police commissioner Kuldeep Kumar R. Jain said that they will ‘investigate’ Tuesday’s scooterist’s death at Panambur on NH 66. The police would issue notice to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) seeking its version about the incident. If the investigation reveals negligence on the part of the NHAI in maintaining the highway, necessary legal action would be taken.

A Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Prasanna B. Varale and Justice Ashok S. Kinagi, said the police should not hide behind technicalities and immediately register FIRs when such complaints are made about accidents due to potholes resulting in injuries or death.

The Surathkal Tollgate Virodhi Horata Samiti on Tuesday urged authorities concerned to initiate action against the NHAI for its failure to maintain NH 66 in a proper condition thereby resulting in the death of Ferrao. Though the NHAI spends over ₹10 crore every year for highway maintenance, the road gets damaged every year.