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Packed bus falls 400ft from Kalhati Ghats pass

June 5th, 2008 by Freddy Ramachandran
Freddy Ramachandran
Ooty, India, South Asia
+ More stories from Freddy Ramachandran
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Packed bus falls 400ft from Kalhati Ghats pass
01/11
Caption
Pay Attention or Perish: The warning at the begining of an-above 21 Hairpin-bend, abrupt descent, to the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary; from an altitude of about 7000 Ft.AMSL (above mean sea level), staes : DO NOT SMOKE/ DO NOT STOP YOUR VEHICLE, OR GET OUT/ DO NOT USE AUTO-GEAR VEHICLES. And this is for the tourists who, instead of taking the proper, & longer route, want to save gas by taking this dangerous shortcut -known as KALHATI GHATS. What you see is the fate that befell one of the Govt. operated busses that plies regularly to a few tribal villages along this route. It is equally important to stress the point that the driver WAS highly experienced, and had been on this line for nigh onto 2 decades, and was up for retirement in a few months. One rainy day last year, at about mid-morning, he stopped his downward going bus to make way for an upward comming vehicle ; just below 'BISON POINT'. What happened next was horrific. Maybe he was complacent, Seeing he had that much experience, or more to the point was that the normally 50 seater bus was jam packed with over 70-80 people ; like sardines. the soft rain-soaked road slowly gave way, and the vehicle rolled over, and down about 400Ft. into the forest. Bodies and belongings were strewn all down the slope...not many survived. There have many road accidents on this stretch, but this was the worst. http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/05/stories/2008060557390100.htm
Packed bus falls 400ft from Kalhati Ghats pass
02/11
Caption
Pay Attention or Perish: The warning at the begining of an-above 21 Hairpin-bend, abrupt descent, to the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary; from an altitude of about 7000 Ft.AMSL (above mean sea level), staes : DO NOT SMOKE/ DO NOT STOP YOUR VEHICLE, OR GET OUT/ DO NOT USE AUTO-GEAR VEHICLES. And this is for the tourists who, instead of taking the proper, & longer route, want to save gas by taking this dangerous shortcut -known as KALHATI GHATS. What you see is the fate that befell one of the Govt. operated busses that plies regularly to a few tribal villages along this route. It is equally important to stress the point that the driver WAS highly experienced, and had been on this line for nigh onto 2 decades, and was up for retirement in a few months. One rainy day last year, at about mid-morning, he stopped his downward going bus to make way for an upward comming vehicle ; just below 'BISON POINT'. What happened next was horrific. Maybe he was complacent, Seeing he had that much experience, or more to the point was that the normally 50 seater bus was jam packed with over 70-80 people ; like sardines. the soft rain-soaked road slowly gave way, and the vehicle rolled over, and down about 400Ft. into the forest. Bodies and belongings were strewn all down the slope...not many survived. There have many road accidents on this stretch, but this was the worst. http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/05/stories/2008060557390100.htm
Packed bus falls 400ft from Kalhati Ghats pass
03/11
Caption
Pay Attention or Perish: The warning at the begining of an-above 21 Hairpin-bend, abrupt descent, to the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary; from an altitude of about 7000 Ft.AMSL (above mean sea level), staes : DO NOT SMOKE/ DO NOT STOP YOUR VEHICLE, OR GET OUT/ DO NOT USE AUTO-GEAR VEHICLES. And this is for the tourists who, instead of taking the proper, & longer route, want to save gas by taking this dangerous shortcut -known as KALHATI GHATS. What you see is the fate that befell one of the Govt. operated busses that plies regularly to a few tribal villages along this route. It is equally important to stress the point that the driver WAS highly experienced, and had been on this line for nigh onto 2 decades, and was up for retirement in a few months. One rainy day last year, at about mid-morning, he stopped his downward going bus to make way for an upward comming vehicle ; just below 'BISON POINT'. What happened next was horrific. Maybe he was complacent, Seeing he had that much experience, or more to the point was that the normally 50 seater bus was jam packed with over 70-80 people ; like sardines. the soft rain-soaked road slowly gave way, and the vehicle rolled over, and down about 400Ft. into the forest. Bodies and belongings were strewn all down the slope...not many survived. There have many road accidents on this stretch, but this was the worst. http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/05/stories/2008060557390100.htm
Packed bus falls 400ft from Kalhati Ghats pass
04/11
Caption
Pay Attention or Perish: The warning at the begining of an-above 21 Hairpin-bend, abrupt descent, to the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary; from an altitude of about 7000 Ft.AMSL (above mean sea level), staes : DO NOT SMOKE/ DO NOT STOP YOUR VEHICLE, OR GET OUT/ DO NOT USE AUTO-GEAR VEHICLES. And this is for the tourists who, instead of taking the proper, & longer route, want to save gas by taking this dangerous shortcut -known as KALHATI GHATS. What you see is the fate that befell one of the Govt. operated busses that plies regularly to a few tribal villages along this route. It is equally important to stress the point that the driver WAS highly experienced, and had been on this line for nigh onto 2 decades, and was up for retirement in a few months. One rainy day last year, at about mid-morning, he stopped his downward going bus to make way for an upward comming vehicle ; just below 'BISON POINT'. What happened next was horrific. Maybe he was complacent, Seeing he had that much experience, or more to the point was that the normally 50 seater bus was jam packed with over 70-80 people ; like sardines. the soft rain-soaked road slowly gave way, and the vehicle rolled over, and down about 400Ft. into the forest. Bodies and belongings were strewn all down the slope...not many survived. There have many road accidents on this stretch, but this was the worst. http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/05/stories/2008060557390100.htm
Packed bus falls 400ft from Kalhati Ghats pass
05/11
Caption
Pay Attention or Perish: The warning at the begining of an-above 21 Hairpin-bend, abrupt descent, to the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary; from an altitude of about 7000 Ft.AMSL (above mean sea level), staes : DO NOT SMOKE/ DO NOT STOP YOUR VEHICLE, OR GET OUT/ DO NOT USE AUTO-GEAR VEHICLES. And this is for the tourists who, instead of taking the proper, & longer route, want to save gas by taking this dangerous shortcut -known as KALHATI GHATS. What you see is the fate that befell one of the Govt. operated busses that plies regularly to a few tribal villages along this route. It is equally important to stress the point that the driver WAS highly experienced, and had been on this line for nigh onto 2 decades, and was up for retirement in a few months. One rainy day last year, at about mid-morning, he stopped his downward going bus to make way for an upward comming vehicle ; just below 'BISON POINT'. What happened next was horrific. Maybe he was complacent, Seeing he had that much experience, or more to the point was that the normally 50 seater bus was jam packed with over 70-80 people ; like sardines. the soft rain-soaked road slowly gave way, and the vehicle rolled over, and down about 400Ft. into the forest. Bodies and belongings were strewn all down the slope...not many survived. There have many road accidents on this stretch, but this was the worst. http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/05/stories/2008060557390100.htm
Packed bus falls 400ft from Kalhati Ghats pass
06/11
Caption
Pay Attention or Perish: The warning at the begining of an-above 21 Hairpin-bend, abrupt descent, to the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary; from an altitude of about 7000 Ft.AMSL (above mean sea level), staes : DO NOT SMOKE/ DO NOT STOP YOUR VEHICLE, OR GET OUT/ DO NOT USE AUTO-GEAR VEHICLES. And this is for the tourists who, instead of taking the proper, & longer route, want to save gas by taking this dangerous shortcut -known as KALHATI GHATS. What you see is the fate that befell one of the Govt. operated busses that plies regularly to a few tribal villages along this route. It is equally important to stress the point that the driver WAS highly experienced, and had been on this line for nigh onto 2 decades, and was up for retirement in a few months. One rainy day last year, at about mid-morning, he stopped his downward going bus to make way for an upward comming vehicle ; just below 'BISON POINT'. What happened next was horrific. Maybe he was complacent, Seeing he had that much experience, or more to the point was that the normally 50 seater bus was jam packed with over 70-80 people ; like sardines. the soft rain-soaked road slowly gave way, and the vehicle rolled over, and down about 400Ft. into the forest. Bodies and belongings were strewn all down the slope...not many survived. There have many road accidents on this stretch, but this was the worst. http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/05/stories/2008060557390100.htm
Packed bus falls 400ft from Kalhati Ghats pass
07/11
Caption
Pay Attention or Perish: The warning at the begining of an-above 21 Hairpin-bend, abrupt descent, to the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary; from an altitude of about 7000 Ft.AMSL (above mean sea level), staes : DO NOT SMOKE/ DO NOT STOP YOUR VEHICLE, OR GET OUT/ DO NOT USE AUTO-GEAR VEHICLES. And this is for the tourists who, instead of taking the proper, & longer route, want to save gas by taking this dangerous shortcut -known as KALHATI GHATS. What you see is the fate that befell one of the Govt. operated busses that plies regularly to a few tribal villages along this route. It is equally important to stress the point that the driver WAS highly experienced, and had been on this line for nigh onto 2 decades, and was up for retirement in a few months. One rainy day last year, at about mid-morning, he stopped his downward going bus to make way for an upward comming vehicle ; just below 'BISON POINT'. What happened next was horrific. Maybe he was complacent, Seeing he had that much experience, or more to the point was that the normally 50 seater bus was jam packed with over 70-80 people ; like sardines. the soft rain-soaked road slowly gave way, and the vehicle rolled over, and down about 400Ft. into the forest. Bodies and belongings were strewn all down the slope...not many survived. There have many road accidents on this stretch, but this was the worst. http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/05/stories/2008060557390100.htm
Packed bus falls 400ft from Kalhati Ghats pass
08/11
Caption
Pay Attention or Perish: The warning at the begining of an-above 21 Hairpin-bend, abrupt descent, to the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary; from an altitude of about 7000 Ft.AMSL (above mean sea level), staes : DO NOT SMOKE/ DO NOT STOP YOUR VEHICLE, OR GET OUT/ DO NOT USE AUTO-GEAR VEHICLES. And this is for the tourists who, instead of taking the proper, & longer route, want to save gas by taking this dangerous shortcut -known as KALHATI GHATS. What you see is the fate that befell one of the Govt. operated busses that plies regularly to a few tribal villages along this route. It is equally important to stress the point that the driver WAS highly experienced, and had been on this line for nigh onto 2 decades, and was up for retirement in a few months. One rainy day last year, at about mid-morning, he stopped his downward going bus to make way for an upward comming vehicle ; just below 'BISON POINT'. What happened next was horrific. Maybe he was complacent, Seeing he had that much experience, or more to the point was that the normally 50 seater bus was jam packed with over 70-80 people ; like sardines. the soft rain-soaked road slowly gave way, and the vehicle rolled over, and down about 400Ft. into the forest. Bodies and belongings were strewn all down the slope...not many survived. There have many road accidents on this stretch, but this was the worst. http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/05/stories/2008060557390100.htm
Packed bus falls 400ft from Kalhati Ghats pass
09/11
Caption
Pay Attention or Perish: The warning at the begining of an-above 21 Hairpin-bend, abrupt descent, to the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary; from an altitude of about 7000 Ft.AMSL (above mean sea level), staes : DO NOT SMOKE/ DO NOT STOP YOUR VEHICLE, OR GET OUT/ DO NOT USE AUTO-GEAR VEHICLES. And this is for the tourists who, instead of taking the proper, & longer route, want to save gas by taking this dangerous shortcut -known as KALHATI GHATS. What you see is the fate that befell one of the Govt. operated busses that plies regularly to a few tribal villages along this route. It is equally important to stress the point that the driver WAS highly experienced, and had been on this line for nigh onto 2 decades, and was up for retirement in a few months. One rainy day last year, at about mid-morning, he stopped his downward going bus to make way for an upward comming vehicle ; just below 'BISON POINT'. What happened next was horrific. Maybe he was complacent, Seeing he had that much experience, or more to the point was that the normally 50 seater bus was jam packed with over 70-80 people ; like sardines. the soft rain-soaked road slowly gave way, and the vehicle rolled over, and down about 400Ft. into the forest. Bodies and belongings were strewn all down the slope...not many survived. There have many road accidents on this stretch, but this was the worst. http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/05/stories/2008060557390100.htm
Packed bus falls 400ft from Kalhati Ghats pass
10/11
Caption
Pay Attention or Perish: The warning at the begining of an-above 21 Hairpin-bend, abrupt descent, to the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary; from an altitude of about 7000 Ft.AMSL (above mean sea level), staes : DO NOT SMOKE/ DO NOT STOP YOUR VEHICLE, OR GET OUT/ DO NOT USE AUTO-GEAR VEHICLES. And this is for the tourists who, instead of taking the proper, & longer route, want to save gas by taking this dangerous shortcut -known as KALHATI GHATS. What you see is the fate that befell one of the Govt. operated busses that plies regularly to a few tribal villages along this route. It is equally important to stress the point that the driver WAS highly experienced, and had been on this line for nigh onto 2 decades, and was up for retirement in a few months. One rainy day last year, at about mid-morning, he stopped his downward going bus to make way for an upward comming vehicle ; just below 'BISON POINT'. What happened next was horrific. Maybe he was complacent, Seeing he had that much experience, or more to the point was that the normally 50 seater bus was jam packed with over 70-80 people ; like sardines. the soft rain-soaked road slowly gave way, and the vehicle rolled over, and down about 400Ft. into the forest. Bodies and belongings were strewn all down the slope...not many survived. There have many road accidents on this stretch, but this was the worst. http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/05/stories/2008060557390100.htm
Packed bus falls 400ft from Kalhati Ghats pass
11/11
Caption
Pay Attention or Perish: The warning at the begining of an-above 21 Hairpin-bend, abrupt descent, to the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary; from an altitude of about 7000 Ft.AMSL (above mean sea level), staes : DO NOT SMOKE/ DO NOT STOP YOUR VEHICLE, OR GET OUT/ DO NOT USE AUTO-GEAR VEHICLES. And this is for the tourists who, instead of taking the proper, & longer route, want to save gas by taking this dangerous shortcut -known as KALHATI GHATS. What you see is the fate that befell one of the Govt. operated busses that plies regularly to a few tribal villages along this route. It is equally important to stress the point that the driver WAS highly experienced, and had been on this line for nigh onto 2 decades, and was up for retirement in a few months. One rainy day last year, at about mid-morning, he stopped his downward going bus to make way for an upward comming vehicle ; just below 'BISON POINT'. What happened next was horrific. Maybe he was complacent, Seeing he had that much experience, or more to the point was that the normally 50 seater bus was jam packed with over 70-80 people ; like sardines. the soft rain-soaked road slowly gave way, and the vehicle rolled over, and down about 400Ft. into the forest. Bodies and belongings were strewn all down the slope...not many survived. There have many road accidents on this stretch, but this was the worst. http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/05/stories/2008060557390100.htm
  • Packed bus falls 400ft from Kalhati Ghats pass
  • Packed bus falls 400ft from Kalhati Ghats pass
  • Packed bus falls 400ft from Kalhati Ghats pass
  • Packed bus falls 400ft from Kalhati Ghats pass
  • Packed bus falls 400ft from Kalhati Ghats pass
  • Packed bus falls 400ft from Kalhati Ghats pass
  • Packed bus falls 400ft from Kalhati Ghats pass
  • Packed bus falls 400ft from Kalhati Ghats pass
  • Packed bus falls 400ft from Kalhati Ghats pass
  • Packed bus falls 400ft from Kalhati Ghats pass
  • Packed bus falls 400ft from Kalhati Ghats pass
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Tragic bus accident on one of India's most dangerous roads in the Nilgiri mountains of the southern state of Tamilnadu.

Pay Attention or Perish: The warning at the begining of a 36 Hairpin-bend, abrupt descent, to the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary; from an altitude of about 7000 Ft.AMSL (above mean sea level), states : DO NOT SMOKE/ DO NOT STOP YOUR VEHICLE, OR GET OUT/ DO NOT USE AUTO-GEAR VEHICLES. And this is for the tourists who, instead of taking the proper, & longer route, want to save gas by taking this dangerous shortcut -known as the KALHATI GHATS.
What you see is the fate that befell one of the Govt. operated busses that plies regularly to a few tribal villages along this route. It is equally important to stress the point that the driver WAS highly experienced, and had been on this line for nigh onto 2 decades, and was up for retirement in a few months. One rainy day last year, at about mid-morning, he stopped his downward going bus to make way for an upward comming vehicle ; just below 'BISON POINT'. What happened next was horrific. Maybe he was complacent, Seeing he had that much experience, or more to the point was that the normally 50 seater bus was jam packed with over 70-80 people ; like sardines. the soft rain-soaked road slowly gave way, and the vehicle rolled over, and down about 400Ft. into the forest. Bodies and belongings were strewn all down the slope...not many survived. There have many road accidents on this stretch, but this was the worst. http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/05/stories/2008060557390100.htm

Submitted by
Freddy Ramachandran
Ooty, India, South Asia
+ More stories from Freddy Ramachandran
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