How I met with an accident
Before I delve into the detailed account of the accident, I would like all of you to understand why I am sharing this incident with you. The sole purpose behind sharing this is to prevent you from encountering a situation similar to the one I experienced and to help you become aware of potential threats you might encounter on Indian roads, especially while riding a scooter or bike
Here we go…
I am writing this exactly after 10 days from the accident. The memories of that day are still so vivid in my mind that it is difficult for me to forget. It was a Saturday, much like any other, except that my husband and I decided to attend a 5 PM ‘club lights dance fitness’ session at Cult, Indiranagar, along with a friend who resides in the area. After the class, me and my husband thought of spending a pleasant evening together, have dinner followed by a delightful dessert. This outing was a long pending treat for us, as we hadn’t indulged in such a plan for quite some time.
Besides, in the past few days my mind was constantly caught up in thoughts about my career, finances, and life in general — a constant whirlwind of concerns. I desperately needed a break, and so did my husband. It seemed like a perfect night for both of us, a rare occasion when we felt so carefree. The Saturday evening vibe had just begun to envelop me! Little did we know that our day was not destined to end that way. The universe had other plans for us.
We began our journey back home on an Activa. This time, I was the one riding, with my husband on the pillion seat. Our route took us from Indiranagar to HSR Layout, a distance of about 10 kilometers. However, the catch was that we had to pass through the Inner Ring Road, a six-lane road.
It was a normal ride in the beginning! But as we made our way along the road, we noticed that the speed of all the other vehicles was slower than usual. Something felt different that day. We observed a large truck, heavily laden, driving a few cars ahead of us. At that moment, we didn’t fully grasp the potential consequences (because we were unaware, never imagined, and had never been informed about the possibility), so we continued on our way.
And then it happened — a sudden impact! The moment that I will never forget, an unforgettable event etched into my mind. This was the moment that determined whether I would live or die.
An electrical cable that had been strung across the road, with both ends attached to opposite sides, suddenly fell down. Despite wearing my helmet, it struck my neck directly, precisely on the left side of my throat.
I was left bewildered, struggling to comprehend what had just transpired. Those few seconds felt like a pause button had been pressed on my life. Everything around me seemed to grind to a halt. Nothing made sense. My only thought was, “How am I still alive?”
Fortunately, I had sensed something amiss from a distance. I saw a fellow biker attempting to avoid an obstacle. Reacting swiftly, I applied my brakes, managing to slow down the vehicle just before the cable struck me. The force of the cable impact brought our vehicle to an abrupt stop. While the other biker successfully avoided the cable, our scooter toppled. The impact pushed my husband slightly to the left, and another bike collided with us from behind. It was clear that we couldn’t remain in that position, as it could trigger a chain reaction of accidents.
Without wasting time, me and my husband reached out to a nearby footpath, where we could gather our thoughts and process what had happened. Fortunately, nothing happened to my husband, and the bike remained operable. Throughout the ordeal, I kept my hand on my neck. My mind was racing, anticipating the worst possible outcomes. I could only think of seeing a doctor immediately. Onlookers began to gather, expressing concern for my well-being. My voice quivered as I attempted to respond, and I could sense the difference in my own speech. Anxiety and worry surged within me.
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I asked if someone could provide me with water, and a kind auto-rickshaw driver offered me some. The pain was worsening, and before long, the police stationed at a nearby checkpoint arrived at the scene. They had been conducting alcohol checks merely 50 meters away. As the traffic around the accident site started to disperse, the police inquired about our condition. The only thing they said to us was ‘It was a lucky day for both of you!’. We were unsure how to react to this statement in that moment. When we inquired about nearby hospitals, they suggested we check Manipal Hospital. However, it was located in the opposite direction. So, we decided to head toward home and seek medical attention at a private hospital on our way.
That night, we sought opinions from two different doctors. It was only when they assured us that the injuries weren’t severe that I began to feel some relief. It was at this point that I found the mental space to contemplate how the accident had occurred and how the cable had fallen.
Regarding my health — thankfully, I am on the road to recovery. I still experience some lingering back pain from the impact, which has forced me to halt my exercise routine. It will be at least 4–5 more days before I can resume.
As for the accident — The incident was possibly triggered by the heavily loaded truck that was ahead of us. But, we have been working to collect any available CCTV footage to understand the sequence of events. We have already lodged a complaint with the authorities, hoping that they will promptly remove or relocate the cable.
Analysis –
On that day, any number of factors could have gone awry, potentially resulting in a tragic outcome.
- The vehicle behind us could have been traveling at a higher speed, leading to a rear-end collision, but fortunately, it didn’t. Thanks to the slow speed
- A car or larger vehicle could have collided with us from behind, yet this also was averted. Thanks to less traffic
- The cable could have been thinner to strangle me to death, but it was a thick cable.
- The cable could have carried an electric shock, but fortunately, it did not.
Whether to label this as luck or misfortune is a question, but I believe I can call it a day of fortunate MISFORTUNE!
My sole piece of advice for you is to stay cautious whenever you encounter a heavily loaded truck ahead on the road. Accidents can occur in numerous ways, yet this particular scenario is often less emphasised (at least, based on what I know)
