JOIN USEight people were killed in separate accidents in the two districts on Thursday. Five people died when they were run over by a speeding mini van near the big banyan tree on NH-48 in Sira taluk of Tumakuru district in the afternoon.
The deceased are Hanumantharayappa, 55, of Kempanahalli, Maradi Ranganatha, 21, of Karejavanahalli, Honnajji, 65, Kenchaganahalli, Lalithamma, 45, of Santhepet in Sira and Ratnamma of Byadagere in Madaksira of Andhra Pradesh.
While three of them died on the spot, one died on the way to the hospital and the other in the hospital. They were all waiting for a bus to reach home after attending a programme at Ajjenahalli village. The Maruti Omni vehicle was coming from Tumakuru and the driver fled abandoning the vehicle after the accident. The Kallambella police have registered a case and are investigating.
Residents of nearby areas staged a protest against lack of passenger safety measures on the highway. Minister T B Jayachandra, B N Chandrappa, MP, district Superintendent of Police Karthik Reddy and others visited the accident spot.
In another accident, three people died on the spot and 14 sustained injuries when their tempo trax collided head-on with a lorry at Banavikallu village of Kudligi taluk of Ballari district on NH-13 in the wee hours. Mudukappa, 36, Thimmanna, 42 and driver Shivakumar, 30, are the deceased. The injured have been admitted to the Kudligi government hospital. Those with grievous injuries are undergoing treatment at VIMS hospital in Ballari.
The accident occurred when the Ayyappa devotees were returning to their native village of Bhagavathi in Bagalkot district, after a pilgrimage to Sabarimala. The lorry was on its way to Chitradurga. Police said that negligence by the lorry driver had caused the accident.
After the accident, another Tempo Trax rammed the two vehicles involved. However, no casualties were reported. The Kana Hosahalli police have registered a case.