Thread by @RoJoSequeira

Narrating the experience of last nights travel from Bangalore to Udupi (1/N)
So it all started with the news of Shiradi being closed for traffic at around 6 pm . Immediately I called the driver of the bus to confirm about the travel route.

(2/N) the driver was unaware of the route closure and on reconfirming he said that the bus won’t be cancelled and they will take alternate route.
So we boarded the bus and as expected the bus took Shivamogga route to come to udupi as both charmadi and shiradi were closed

(3/N) so we were aware that they will be a delay of 2-3 hours when we reach udupi coz of the long route . All was going well until we reached near the Tunga river in Shimogga

(4/N) it was around 4AM and the bus on halt for for then 30 mins, and I looked outside there was a ocean of people and vehicles. It was a chaos - honking / shouting / asking one another what’s going on.

(5/N) then we came to know that the river had over-flown (or dam doors were opened not sure of the reason). Coz of that the road was flooded and only buses could cross the road.

(6/N)We got to know about this coz apparently some buses had alredy crossed the flooded road(drivers were giving updates). And now we were wondering why our buses are stopped.Then we over heard a police personnel taking -

(7/N)He was on call saying “Sir locals aren’t allowing the buses to move coz the bus waves created by the water when the buses move will damage their home walls it seems” (fair enough, they have their own reason)

(8/N)well but after sometime somehow all agreed and buses stared moving. Or bus did too but midway the engine died! (Silencer and the water theory u know). So now there we were- all the passengers stuck in a bus trying to cross a flooded road!

(9/N)The water level was high enough to enter the footboard and almost inside the bus. Now there wa me panic ! There were kids and children inside the bus some of them crying and others confused.

(10/N) Coz we literally saw cars and autorickhwas almost floating (may be the ones parked overnight)! That was scary! .. Now the bus had to pass the waterlogged road! So all the men in the bus got down and we started pushing the bus 🚌!

(11/N)There were enough ppl so we could somehow push the bus out of waterlogged road ( and the local ppl were taking the videos on the mobile when this was happening! So u may end up getting our video soon on whatsapp 😬)

(12/N) so right after this horrific 1:30 mins, I thought to reschedule my return journey to Flights (can’t rely on night travel in bus after this incident until everything is settled!). I searched for the flights for Sunday and this is what I see !

(13/N) yeah I agree if u search flights one day in advance the fares will be hiked but 13k for a flight which is usually at 1.8-2.5K is insane!!! Anyways, reached home around 11:30 (supposed to be at 6:30)..

(14/N) well there are few takeaways from this incident
1. The bus drivers were not aware of route change until passengers told them. There has to be some system so that drivers know the situation

2. The tunga river overflow / opening of the dam could have been informed in advance to the vehicles in transit so that the traffic jam could have been handled well

3. There should be Control over the insane price hike by flights / buses during such situations
_END_
#Bengaluru #KarnatakaFloods2019

@ANV_90 @tweet_preet @JGPhilip

Update : shiradi ghat is good for travel for small vehicles and the vehicles are allowed day time...
there are multiple routes via shimogga to reach to udupi , some are good some aren’t. Private buses (tonight) are taking shimogga route.