As many as 12 people were killed on the spot after a lorry ram-med a luggage auto near Mada-nayakanahalli on NH-4 in Chitradurga taluk on Friday.

The deceased have been identified as Sudeep (18), Thippeswamy (48), Chethan (15), Burude Manjunath (40), Gangadhar (45), Nagaraja (45), Kumar (28), Manjanna (45), Kolyappa (55), Duggappa (45), Gangavva (65) and Manjunath (12). Rahul, the driver of the lorry was injured in the accident, Superintendent of Police M N Anuchet said. All the deceased were residents of Kodagahalli in the taluk.

The accident occurred when the victims were returning to their village after taking part in the religious programme at Chikkagondanahalli. The truck, laden with iron rods, rammed the auto from the opposite site. The auto turned turtle due to impact of the collision and the truck toppled over it. The bodies were trapped beneath the auto, which was reduced to a heap of metal. Senior police officers including the SP visited the spot. Turuvanur police have registered a case.