Nine killed, six grievously hurt in head-on collision

In a gruesome accident, nine youths were killed and six others sustained grievous injuries when the Cruiser (jeep) in which they were travelling collided with a Canter lorry head-on on National Highway 218 near Chikkasindgi in the taluk in the wee hours of Friday.

The victims, all natives of Chittapur in Kalaburagi district, were returning home after a two-day trip in Goa.

The deceased are: Srinath Nalavar (25), driver of the cruiser, Ambarish Dore (30), Younis Patel Kadabur (25), Sagar Doddamani (22), Chand Mujawar (24), Gururaj Hakeem (35), Shakeer Shaikh (27), Abdul Azeem Shaikh (35) and Munsuf Patel Kadabur (28).

The injured Saddam, Mallikarjun Jamadar, Mohammad Mansur and Akash Dore have been shifted to Vijayapura District Hospital for treatment. The condition of Saddam is said to be critical.

Canter driver Sopeti Anand and cleaner Sajid Khader Babu, both natives of Tadapalligudam in West Godavari district, are also injured in the accident. Canter was on its way to Tikota.

The impact of the collision was such that both the vehicles were reduced to heaps of metal.

Superintendent of Police Prakash Amrut Nikkam, Addl SP Nyamagouda, DySP M B Sunkad and staff visited the spot.