Six of family, driver die in lorry, jeep collision

The family was on its way to see a bride for Anand, who was also killed

The accident occurred near Lokapura in Mudhol taluk in Bagalkot district on Monday.  The dead have been identified as Neelavva Eelagera (60), Leela Srikanth Eelagera (35), Anand Mahadeva Eelagera (19), Balavva Ontagodi (35), Soumya Pandu Mulugund (6), Ellavava Basappa Shindhigara (48) and jeep driver Suresh (35).

The others who have been grievously injured are Sujatha Pandappa Mulugund, Pooja Shinde, Pradeep Mahadev Eelagara, Lakshman Maruti Eelagara and Ramanna Eelagara. They have all been admitted to a private hospital in Mudhol. A couple of them were treated at the Lokapura Primary Health Centre and sent to a private hospital.

A tragedy

The tragic incident occurred when all the members of the same family were returning after seeing a bride for Anand Eelagara.  Anand too was killed in the accident. Both the vehicles were speeding and when they dashed against one another, seven people in the jeep died on the spot. There were 15 people travelling in the jeep, said the police.

Ghastly sight

Due to the impact of the collision, the bodies were scattered and blood was splashed on the road. The mini lorry rolled into a side and the jeep was completely mangled.  The mini lorry was returning to Bijapur after transporting grapes to Belgaum. The jeep was proceeding from Varchagal in Mudhol taluk to Gokak.

The police on receiving information rushed to the spot. Many were unable to contain their grief on seeing the bodies lined up. The mini lorry driver is absconding and the police are on the look out for him.