Mandya: The driver of the private bus that fell into a canal and killed more than 30 people in Mandya has finally been arrested.

The Pandavapura police arrested Shivanna of Holalu village in Mandya 15 days after the tragic incident.

The police will produce him before the Mandya court today.

The driver Shivanna alias Mahadeva and conductor Thandava fled the place as soon as the bus fell into a canal at Kanaganamaradi in Mandya on November 24. Thandava was arrested from his in-law's place in Mandya on November 30.

But driver Shivanna managed to stay at large until now. It is said that the driver and conductor jumped into the canal as soon as they got the hint that the bus was going to fall into the canal and swam to safety.

The chief minister had announced Rs 5 lakh compensation each to families of the victims. The district administration has released Rs 1.5 crore to the Pandavapura taluk administration.

It is said that brake failure is the reason why the driver lost control of the bus, but the exact reason for the accident has not been declared yet.