Seven killed in collision between tipper lorry and auto in Bagalkot

In a tragic accident, 7 people, including 5 children died in a collision between an autorickshaw and a tipper on the Raichur-Belagavi State Highway near Lokapura of Mudhol taluk. 

Reshma Lakkappa Kataraki (14), Darshan Arjun Salumantapa (12), Yamanura Maruti Salumantapa (9), his mother Lalitha Maruti Salumantapa (38) and Anand Hanumantha Killekyatara (8) and his grandmother Somavva (60), both residents of Upanala village of Hunagund taluk, all died on the spot, while Suresh Killekyatara (14) breathed his last in the hospital. 

The driver of the autorickshaw, Arjun Subraya Salumantapa, his wife Summavva, Maruti Salumantapa and Manjula Salumantapa have been severely injured. They have been shifted to a private hospital in Bagalkot. Arjun and Manjula Salumanatapa are in a critical condition. 

The autorickshaw was travelling from Veerapura in Bagalkot taluk towards Chinchakhandi. A tipper transporting jelly stones was going from Lokapura towards Bagalkot. The two vehicles collided head-on and the autorickshaw was crushed due to the impact. The bodies of the passengers were strewn on the road telling a tragic tale.  The passengers of the autorickshaw belonged to the same family. They were travelling to Chinchakhandi after attending the Durgadevi Jathre in Veerapura on Saturday. 

A case has been registered in Lokapura police station. Superintendent of Police M N Nagaraj and Mudhol legislator Govind Karajola visited the relatives of the deceased and consoled them.