Road humps in Shivamogga: Following fatal accident, corporation decides to remove unscientific humps

Following the death of a person allegedly due to the recently constructed unscientific road hump on the Shivamogga-Shikaripur Road (Savalanga Road) in the city, the Shivamogga City Corporation has initiated a drive to remove the humps that do not meet the permissible engineering standards.

Ragigudda resident Suhail Ulla was returning home after his shift at a mobile phone shop on February 12, when he met with an accident on Savalanga Road. Suhail Ulla was riding his two-wheeler when he hit a newly placed speed bump at high speed, causing him to fall off the bike and sustain a serious head injury. He died from his injuries three days later at a hospital in the city. Video footage captured on the security camera of a store near the scene of the accident went viral on social media. After the accident, residents of the neighborhood took action and removed the speed bump with the help of a work machine.

Apart from the fatal accident, minor accidents also occurred in the city due to the unscientific mounds laid recently. A senior citizen driving a two-wheeler on the same road hit a bump and fell off the vehicle. Regular commuters on the road connecting the railway station to Vinoba Nagar also suffered jolts due to the newly laid hump near the railway station.

The public has complained to the Shivamogga City Corporation and the police that unscientific road bumps without proper signboards, warnings and reflective paints are causing accidents. They demanded the authorities to remove such mounds immediately.

Company commissioner Mayanna Gowda held a meeting with officials on the issue on Tuesday. He set up a team of officials to inspect all the mounds built in recent months and identify those that did not meet the required standards. Officers toured the city on two-wheelers and four-wheelers and located more than 15 such mounds.

The Commissioner told the media that unscientific road bumps will be removed and measures will be taken to ensure that the bumps meet the standards set by the Indian Road Congress.