JOIN US As many as 13 people were killed on the spot after a speeding tanker lorry rammed the goods vehicle they were travelling in, near Lokapur in the district on Friday.
A total of 17 people of four villages were returning to their places by the goods vehicle (Tata Ace). The accident occurred on Belagavi-Raichur State Highway when a tanker lorry coming from the opposite side rammed the goods vehicle. The goods vehicle was reduced to a heap of metal due to the impact of the collision. The accident spot presented a gory scene with mutilated bodies strewn all over the road. The tanker lorry toppled into a nearby farmland and its driver fled the spot soon after the accident.
The Fire and Emergency Services personnel ensured that diesel did not leak from the tanker.
The movement of vehicles towards Belagavi, Vijayapura and Bagalkot was affected due to the accident.
District in-charge minister S R Patil visited the families of the victims and announced a compensation of Rs one lakh would be paid to the families of the deceased from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. He said that the injured would get an ex gratia of Rs 50,000.