Five persons, including four women labourers, were drowned and two others managed to swim to safety when the autorickshaw they were travelling plunged into the Tungabhadra river at Kolagal, about five kms away from here, on Monday.
The dead included the driver of the vehicle, Additional Superintendent of Police Ashok Turera said.
The victims were identified as Adilakshmi, Razia, Lakshmi, Satramma, Yarriswamy and a search for their bodies has been launched.
Hazeemi and Lingamma, who sustained injuries have been admitted to a hospital, he said.
Published 19 October 2009, 08:58 IST