10 killed in car-truck collision in Belgaum

Ten people, including three children, were killed on Thursday when the sports utility vehicle (SUV) they were travelling in collided with a truck on National Highway 4 at Harinagar Cross in Nipani town of Chikodi taluk in Belgaum district.

According to police, all the 10 victims were from a single family hailing from Ambeli village in Dodamarg taluk of Sindhdurg district of Maharashtra. They had been returning home after a pilgrimage to Shirdi and other religious places.

The accident occured when the speeding Toyota Fortuner crashed through the highway divider and collided head-on with a truck. 

The 10 victims have been identified as Prakash Raghunath Palekar (45), his wife Poonam (32), children Prajesh (13), Prajay (14), Ravi Rajayam Pednekar (30), his son Atharva (5), Ganesh Harishchandra Palekar (22), Anita Krishna Palekar, Geeta Krishna Palekar and Narayan alias Kiran Krishna Palekar. 

Another passenger, Ujwala Ravi Pednekar, and truck driver, Appu Ramdev Hasid, were severely injured and taken to the hospital. Police officers used cellphones of the deceased to ascertain their identities and inform relatives. 

The accident caused a serious traffic jam on National Highway 4, resulting in a traffic jam for over an hour. The movement of vehicles towards Kolhapur was severely affected till the wreckage could be moved. Nipani Town police have registered a case and are investigating.