A 32-year-old man died and his mother was critically injured on Thursday morning when a private bus hit their scooter after they swerved to avoid a pothole on MG Road.

The deceased was identified as Vishnudath, a resident of Udaya Nagar, Punkunnam. His mother, Padmini (60), is undergoing treatment in the ICU at Government Medical College Hospital, Thrissur

The accident occurred around 8 a.m. near the Kottappuram bridge on the busy MG Road. Vishnudath and his mother were on their way to Sree Vadakkunnathan Temple when he veered to avoid a pothole. A bus following closely hit the scooter, and Vishnudath was thrown onto the road and run over by the same bus. He died on the spot.

Local people and the police rushed Padmini to the hospital. Vishnudath, a pharmacy employee, was unmarried. His father is deceased. The body will be cremated after his sister arrives from abroad.

Following the incident, local residents filled the pothole temporarily with mud and metal. Political leaders, including Corporation Opposition Leader Rajan J. Pallan and BJP district president Justin Jacob, gathered at the spot. Congress and BJP councillors staged a protest by sitting on the road, demanding a case of culpable homicide against the Mayor for the civic body’s failure to repair the road.

“The corporation ignored our repeated warnings about the pathetic condition of city roads. Now a life is lost. As people suffer, the Mayor and Secretary are on vacation in Goa,” Mr. Pallan said.

The protest disrupted traffic in the city, and the police later arrested and removed the protesters, including women councillors, to restore the traffic.