Woman Run Over By Fish-Laden Lorry As Mangaluru Pothole Mishap Turns Deadly

Last Updated:September 10, 2025, 08:51 IST

NHAI officials have also been booked for negligence in maintaining the highway, said officials aware of the development

Mangaluru pothole mishap (Representational image)

A 44-year-old woman lost her life on Tuesday morning after falling off her scooter while navigating a pothole on National Highway 66 near Kulur, before being run over by a fish-laden lorry.

The victim, identified as Madhavi, worked at a private hospital in Kuntikana.

Police said the accident occurred around 8.30 am as she was riding towards work along the Udupi–Mangaluru carriageway.

Near the Gold Finch City grounds, her scooter reportedly struck a pothole, causing her to fall. The lorry, driven by Mohammed Farooq, ran over her, killing her on the spot.

The Mangaluru City Traffic Police registered a case against both the driver and officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

Farooq was charged under sections 106 (causing death by negligence) and 281 (rash driving on a public road) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act.

He was arrested and later released on bail.

NHAI officials have also been booked for negligence in maintaining the highway. Following the incident, personnel rushed to patch potholes at the accident site.

This is the third pothole-linked fatality in the region in recent months.

In June, Mohammed Ashraf, riding pillion, was crushed under a tanker at Panambur after the driver swerved to avoid a crater.

Another accident near Nanthoor junction in August saw a rider fall off his scooter, though no case was filed.

Activists criticised NHAI over the latest fatality, accusing the authority of ignoring repeated warnings.

“NHAI must be held accountable for failing to repair potholes and should compensate the victims’ families,” said Muneer Katipalla, convener of the Surathkal Toll Gate Virodhi Horata Samiti.

Despite earlier protests and police notices, campaigners said dangerous stretches between Surathkal and Nanthoor remain neglected, with poor road maintenance continuing to endanger commuters.

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