7 killed in horrific chain accident near Bengaluru's Hoskote

Seven people, including six college students, were killed in a serial accident on the Hoskote-Dobbspet National Highway near M Satyavara early Friday morning.

The tragedy occurred around 4.30 am when a speeding Mahindra XUV 700, carrying six PU students from Bengaluru, crashed into a motorcycle before ramming into a container truck.

According to the Sulibele police, the students were driving from Kothanur toward Devanahalli. The car first hit a bike ridden by Gagan, a factory supervisor, killing him instantly.

In the resulting panic, the car driver reportedly accelerated instead of braking, crashing head-on into the rear of a container lorry.

The impact was so violent that the SUV was crushed under the truck, killing all six students on the spot. A third vehicle, a Maruti Brezza, was also caught in the pile-up after hitting debris from the truck's broken axle, though its four occupants escaped with minor injuries.

The deceased students have been partially identified as Bharath, George, and Iyan.

"Excessive speed and reckless driving are the primary causes based on preliminary findings," a senior police officer stated. "The impact was so violent that the police had a harrowing time extricating the bodies from the mangled remains of the car."

The bodies have been shifted to the Hoskote Government Hospital for post-mortem.

A case has been registered at the Sulibele police station, and a detailed probe is underway.