The names of the deceased are given as Indubai Birje (70), Shanta Birje (45), Sunil Pukale (42), driver Ningappa Yellappa Mangalarthi (27) all hailing from Bankapur in Shiggaon taluk of Haveri district, Ganapathi alias Munna Birje (32) and Veerupakshappa Ningappa Hatharki (48) both hailing from Dharwad. However, Deepak Upale (30), a doctor by profession has escaped with minor injuries.
Police said that Indubai Birje’s daughter Kamala Birje was hospitalised at Bijapur and the Birje family along with relatives was on its way to Bijapur to see the patient, when the accident occurred.
The van, which rammed into the ore-laden lorry was reduced to a heap of metal and police had to struggle for over six hours to extricate the bodies. The driver and cleaner of the lorry have surrendered before the Bilagi police.
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