Five persons, including three children, were killed and more than 25 people sustained grievous injuries when two tractor-trailers ferrying a marriage party toppled near Murgundi village in Athani taluk of Belgaum district on Friday. The trailers were attached to a tractor.
Kallavva Sadashiv Talawar (65), Renuka Bajantri (40), Basavaraj Suresh Nandeshwar (12), Danesh Mahadev Talawar (10), Priyanka Ravi Halannavar (2), all residents of Rabakavi town in Jamakhandi taluk of Bagalkot district, died on the spot.
As many as 36 people, most of them women, who sustained injuries were rushed to hospitals in Athani and in Sangli, Maharashtra.
Police said that the hook of the first trailer, which was attached to the tractor, snapped and this resulted in the accident. The trailers toppled and were thrown to a distance. Four of the passengers stuck under the trailers were rescued by village residents. But the efforts of the village residents went in vain as the passengers died while undergoing treatment at the hospital.
Over 40 people were travelling in the tractor-trailers when the accident occurred. They were returning to Rabakavi, after taking part in a marriage held at Mole village in Athani taluk. The Athani police have registered a case.