Senior Congress leader, former Minister, and former Bantwal MLA B. Ramanath Rai escaped unhurt, while his personal assistant Denzel suffered a leg fracture, after the sports utility vehicle in which they were travelling met with an accident near Sanur village within Karkala Town Police Station limits in Udupi district on Sunday afternoon.

The Udupi police said Mr. Rai was on his way to attend a function of a Congress party worker in Sanur. Around 3.30 p.m., the vehicle was hit by a bus belonging to Vishal Travels. Mr. Rai was in the rear seat along with another personal assistant.

Mr. Rai, the other personal assistant, and the vehicle driver escaped unhurt without major injuries. Mr. Rai experienced slight discomfort due to the accident. He underwent treatment at T.M.A. Pai Hospital and will shortly be shifted to Yenepoya Hospital in Mangaluru. Mr. Denzel suffered a fracture in his right leg and was undergoing treatment at the hospital. He too will be shifted to Yenepoya Hospital, the police said.